Incineration is safe these days and you can burn it for the electricity. Incineration still produces emission into the air including air pollutants and greenhouse gasses. While it is true that some incinerators also produce electricity, it is not without impact. Recycling the material, or reusing or reducing its use, will save electricity and is a much more efficient way of handling the material. It's OK to throw something away as long as it's biodegradable.
Biodegradable waste breaks down into methane in the landfill, if at all.
It is usually released into the atmosphere, where it is a potent greenhouse gas. A better solution is to recycle the material, or even better, reuse it or reduce its use altogether. Non-biodegradable waste does not produce methane, but it also will not break down in the landfill, thus using more space. Composting biodegradables is an effective option. Please send your comments to Rice IWMS .