How should one show respect for the Quran?

To comprehend the outrage expressed by so many Muslims when the Quran is burned, we must first understand how Muslims see the Quran (or Koran).  First and foremost, it is sacred and therefore must be treated with respect:

The Qur'an is treated with immense respect by Muslims because it is the sacred word of God.

While the Qur'an is recited aloud, Muslims should behave with reverence and refrain from speaking, eating or drinking, or making distracting noise (BBC Religions, Islam: The Quran).

Not only must the Quran be respected when it is read or recited, there is a protocol for handling the book itself.

• To touch the Quran while in an impure state shows disrespect for this holy book. Showing respect would include bathing before reading, washing one's hands, or (if a woman is menstruating or a person is ritually unclean) wearing gloves or not touching the Quran at all.
• "Not having sexual relation in an area where the Quran is. If this must happen then one should cover the Quran. (Remember, this is a book which is a miracle, filled with light and spirituality) and Allah’s sacred and greatest words which were sent by the pure angels to the blessed Prophet (SA)."
• "Out of great love and respect, one should not put other books upon it."
• "One should not turn the pages of the Quran with saliva on his fingers" (Tafseer Ruhal Ma’ani vol.14 pg.155).

According to some scholars, non-Muslims should not even be permitted to touch a Quran written or printed in Arabic; rather, non-Muslims should be given a translation to help them in their search for understanding:

"It is not permitted for a non-Muslim to touch the Mus-haf (the Arabic text of the Quran) and he should not be allowed to do so even with the purpose of reading it in order to embrace Islam" (Giving Quran to non-Muslim, Islamweb).

In addition to being handled with respect, a Quran must also be stored respectfully.

Muslims never place the Qur'an on the floor, and many try to ensure it is kept higher than other books (E.g. on the top shelf of a bookcase). This would especially be the case with a copy of the Qur'an written in Arabic (The Qur'an: Key facts).

In the UK, libraries have responded to Muslim complaints by re-shelving the Quran and other books on the highest shelves:

Librarians are being told to move the Bible to the top shelf to avoid giving offence to followers of Islam.
Muslims have complained of finding the Koran on lower shelves, saying it should be put above commonplace things (Daily Mail).

Other sacred texts, such as the Bible, are also accorded great respect by Muslims.

Jesus Christ and mother Mary are considered holy and highly revered by every Muslim.... [Islam]  is a universal faith stemming from the same origins of the Judeo-Christian faith which along with Islam are recognized as Abrahamic religions. so, burning the Quran would be like consequently throwing the Bible and Torah in the same bonfire.

This is mainly why Muslims cannot retaliate against burning al Quran by burning any copy of the Bible because Islam decrees that Muslims should respect and honor the Bible and Torah as well (Dr. Ashraf Ezzat).

To summarize:  while many Americans tend to treat books as commonplace objects and have little or no understanding of the sacred, Muslims view the Quran, the Torah and the Bible as holy texts which must be treated with the utmost respect.  While these books are in usable condition, they are revered.  It is only logical that, when the texts are no longer usable, they are disposed of in a reverent and respectful manner and absolutely never burned with trash at the dump.