Not necessarily. In countries like Japan and Sweden, they claim that their waste to energy (trash burning) operations reduce greenhouse gases when all factors are considered. So much so that Sweden imports trash to burn. Landfills arent the best place either. For example, organic waste decomposing in landfills produces methane gas, which is way more potent than carbon dioxide. There is an argument to be made that burning organic waste is better than burying it.
Trash incinerations are too controversial in the US to expand much. I think because of a ill-informed public.
But still, America has a large untapped opportunity to curb greenhouse gas emissions through more use of trash burning power plants. What's required is the right controls, technology and public education. That included mixed trash with plastics. Our efforts to reduce emissions need to be multi pronged.
Trash incinerations are too controversial in the US to expand much. I think because of a ill-informed public.