Mass burn refers to the incineration of unsorted municipal waste in a Municipal Waste Combustor (MWC) or other incinerator designated to burn only waste from municipalities. This waste management method avoids the expensive and unpleasant task of sorting through the garbage for unburnable materials. All waste received at the facility is shredded into small pieces and fed into the incinerator. Steam produced in the incinerator's boiler can be used to generate electricity or to heat nearby buildings. The residual ash and unburnable materials, representing about 10-20 percent of the original volume of waste, are taken to a landfill for disposal. Mass burn incineration also has several drawbacks. Since the waste is unsorted, it often generates more polluting emissions than sorted waste, and it is more likely to corrode burner grates and chimneys. The residual ash and unburned materials may be toxic and require special treatment.

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