You have  a container with a solution. This solution is agitated. Suspended on this solutions are millions of microscopic robots. The bottom of the container contains energy plugs where this robots can attach themselves and recharge their tiny batteries. 

These robots only do one thing, when they touch something, they emit a spark releasing at once all the energy they have. 

You place a piece of thrash into the solution. It starts to get eaten by the army of robots zapping it. Soon there is nothing left of the thrash piece.  

I though that the robots didn't need any kind of propulsion. They would just go with the flow. 

When the solution is too contaminated you replace it.

Now, is disintegrating thrash better than dumping it in landfill? Perhaps.