Infectious waste treatment methods include which of the following?

Incineration or heat activation is a recognized method for treating infectious waste, making it the correct answer. This method effectively destroys pathogens and reduces the volume of waste. Incineration involves burning the waste at high temperatures, which ensures that harmful microorganisms are eliminated, transforming the waste into ash and leaving no residual contamination. Heat activation can also refer to techniques that involve applying heat to disinfect and reduce the infectious characteristics of the waste.

The other methods listed do not meet the stringent standards required for treating infectious waste. Dumping in landfills poses significant risks as it does not eliminate pathogens and can lead to environmental contamination, as well as potential outbreaks of infection. Autoclaving is a widely used method for sterilizing medical tools and certain types of waste but is not the sole method; hence, it cannot stand alone as the only method for treating infectious waste. Microwaving waste can be an effective treatment method, but it is typically not as widely used as incineration and does not destroy waste as thoroughly, especially for larger volumes or more hazardous materials. Thus, while some options do reference legitimate methods, incineration or heat activation is the most effective and comprehensive approach for dealing with infectious waste.