Research needs for the thermal treatment of hazardous waste

The failure to properly manage hazardous materials, which are a natural outgrowth of our industrial society, poses a threat to the environment and limits our country's competitiveness. There has been a great deal of activity in hazardous waste cleanup which addresses past mistakes, but the long term solution to this escalating problem depends upon successful research into additional solutions including (i) minimization of hazardous materials production during manufacturing operations, (ii) regeneration of useful materials from wastes, and (iii) the rendering of useless hazardous substances harmless. The National Science Foundation has a role to play in achieving these solutions, in coordination with other federal agencies.