The ability to degrade and detoxify organic and inorganic constituents requires two complementary features of microbial competence; the biochemical means (enzymes) to detoxify wastes and the capability of a single organism or a multiplicity of compatible organisms of complementary competence to effect this required metabolism. An example of a single, highly competent organism is the wood-degrading fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, which has the potential to degrade the aromatic components of toxic and hazardous waste. This fungus has been utilized to treat liquid-phase wastes in a rotating biological contractor (RBC), the MyCoR process. The research program explores the use of the MyCoR process as a hazardous waste site clean-up technology, addressing issues of application and practicality to emphasize cost effectiveness and efficiency. In these studies, biochemical and mechanical parameters were optimized for biodegradation by the use of Pshrysosporium biofilms in bench-scale and pilot-scale RBCs. (Copyright (c) 1991 Air and Waste Management Association.)