<DIV>Increasing global consumerism and population has led to an increase in the levels of waste produced. While integrated waste management practices help to divert as much of the mixed general waste back to be recycled or reused as possible, there are limited options available for residual wastes. Energy recovery represents an additional option in support of an improved and sustainable waste management hierarchy. Rather than sending residual wastes direct to landfill, advanced conversion technologies coupled with advanced pollution control systems can be employed to convert these calorific materials into clean energy. These systems can be integrated into buildings, distributed energy networks and even national electricity grids, allowing for residual wastes to play an important role in local energy supply and wider energy security.<BR><BR>The editors and contributors provide an integrated, comprehensive reference on waste to energy (WTE) conversion technology. Introductory chapters review the waste hierarchy and WTE systems options along with the corresponding environmental, regulatory and techno-economic issues facing this technology. This coverage is extended with reviews of the development of WTE systems, from initial processing and pretreatment of wastes onto the range of combustion and advanced conversion and energy recovery technologies, including anaerobic digestion routes that can also utilize landfill gas. The final section reviews the highly developed pollution controls applicable to these systems, as well as routes to optimize overall systems performance and approaches to integrate WTE technology into local power and heat networks.</div>