A method for treatment of halogen-containing waste material, in particular PVC-containing waste material, is disclosed, wherein the waste material in a decomposition step is heated in a reaction zone in a substantially closed system essentially without addition of water to a temperature between 150 and 750.degree. C., preferably 250-350.degree. C., in the presence of a halogen-reactive compound selected from alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates and mixtures thereof, so as to establish a controllable autogenous pressure substantially above atmospheric pressure, in a sufficient reaction time to convert essentially all halogen present in the waste material to alkali or alkaline earth metal halides, said closed system preferably also comprising a condensation zone, where water vapour and volatile compounds liberated from the waste material are condensed. The remanence obtained in the decomposition step is washed with an aqueous solvent, preferably pure water, and the soluble and insoluble parts of the remanence are separated. By this method the halogen is removed from the waste without uncontrolled emission of halogen-containing acids to the environment.
Chlorine-containing waste is processed inside a heating device, an alkali metal compound and a calcium compound are given into the heating device while the temperature of a solid phase inside the heating device is maintained at 400 to 1500.degree. C., chlorine that is contained in the chlorine-containing waste and that has not been bound by the alkali metal compound is bound in the solid phase by the calcium compound, and chlorine is converted into alkali metal chloride from calcium chloride generated in the course of the processing of the chlorine-containing waste.
The invention relates to a method for the disposal of waste products containing hydrocarbons and/or halogenated waste products, wherein the waste products are made to react in a hydroxide molten bath in the absence of oxygen at temperatures of 400-900.degree. C.
