RE:

First, "high-temperature" waste incineration isn't. The temperature of the burning waste is variable through the pile. In addition, dioxin is formed also in the *stack* from recombination of chlorine and organics. If you look at ANY stack emission document from any incinerator in the US (which they are required to provide every 9 months by EPA regulations) you will find out how much dioxin it emits during the *best* of burning conditions (that is, they make very sure that everything is in top working condition - temp, scrubbers, etc - when the tests are done). I don't have the new EPA regs in front of me, but they specify the amount of total dioxins that are allowed. Most incinerators even with retrofits find it difficult to keep within these limits (they are referred to as Best Available Technology requirements).

Finally, as Paul Connett constantly reminds us, there is the ash. The ash is heavily contaminated with dioxins, especially the fly ash (onto which dioxin has reformed and clung) that is removed by the filters, scrubbers, and/or electrostatic precipitators. The ash needs landfills and should be classified as toxic waste. It has all the characteristics of toxic waste but was "exempted" by the EPA finding and specifying a test that would not expose its toxicity.