A chemical process in which oxygen rapidly combines with the fuel and converts the fuel into gases, primarily water (H20) and carbon dioxide (C02), and residues. The combustion process produces significant thermal energy (heat) and light, and generally is self sustaining-that is no external source of heat is required to maintain combustion of fuel. In modern, state-of-the-art waste-to-energy facilities, and in other modern energy production facilities, the combustion process is carefully controlled to extract maximum energy value from the fuel source and to reduce the generation of potentially harmful substances significantly well below stringent regulatory levels. Industrial and post-consumer plastic plastics that cannot be economically recycled are excellent fuel sources that combust very well in such facilities. The energy value of these plastics is comparable to oil and can be more than 50 percent greater than coal. (Tchobanoglous, George, Hilary Theisen and Rolf Eliassen, "Solid Wastes, Engineering Principles and Management Issues," McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1977; Lund, Herbert F., "The McGraw-Hill Recycling Handbook," McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1993).