The article discusses a statistically designed parametric investigation to determine which waste and kiln variables (charge mass, charge surface area, charge composition, and kiln temperature) significantly affect both instantaneous intensity and total magnitude of the puffs leaving a kiln used to incinerate simple prototype plastic wastes, ranging from polyethylene to polyvinychloride. Results show the relative ease with which failure conditions are achieved, even at high excess air values and high kiln temperatures. Transient puffs leaving the kiln contain a number of hazardous compounds. Increasing kiln temperature does not necessarily decrease the puff intensity and may in fact cause an increase. However, the total mass emitted always decreases with increasing temperature. In addition, the mass, surface area, and composition of the charge are all important. (Copyright (c) 1987 - APCA.)