Incinerators have well known carcinogenic effects.
Landfills can easily pollute the nearby fields and water aquifers. And in most of Europe and Japan there is no more space for them.
All that remains at the end is ash that contains various metals and syngas that is produced in the process. Which can be used for generating electric power.
I hope plasma arc gasification becomes the standard for managing and disposing municipal solid waste. It really works. But you do need a certain scale (enough waste) for it to be effective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_gasification
http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-...
In 2015 "incinerator" means classic burners. Plasma gasification is practically unused: there are less that 10 plasma gasification facilities in the world.
According to the most recent land ministry survey conducted in 2013, there are 8.2 million vacant residences in Japan, 39 percent of which are designated as “abandoned,” meaning they are not for sale or rent. The portion of abandoned houses found in the previous survey, conducted in 2008, was 35 percent, and since 200,000 houses are demolished every year in Japan, the increase in the number is actually steeper than the percentage difference would indicate.
Just because people might not like the concept of piling up trash doesn't mean it's an inherently bad idea.
Overall waste and recycling is low on the threats to our planet so I think doing nothing is ok (if by doing nothing you mean incinerating trash to generate electricity or responsibly burying it). The primary issue is reducing meat/dairy consumption and the next is transportation.