Background Incineration is the second most common method of waste treatment in Europe. It generates residues from domestic waste incineration smoke and industrial waste (REFIOM and REFIDI). An increasing amount of waste is being incinerated, but standards for emissions have been raised by the European Instructions of 4/12/2000 on waste incineration and 24/04/2001 on limitations of pollutants in the atmosphere. The application of these instructions will increase the amount of REFIOM. In France, such residues represent 3% of incinerated material. The 420 000 tons of smoke purification residues produced in 2002 was made up of 390 000 tons REFIOM and between 25 000 to 30 000 tons REFIDI. Once stabilised, the REFIOM are very water soluble but the transport of REFIOM is expensive and stabilized waste is not inert. Objectives The vitrification process Vitriflash offers an alternative. It is a means for transforming hazardous substances in usable materials. The objectives of the project were to optimise an innovative pilot process of REFIOM vitrification and to demonstrate how vitrified products can be profitably used. Initial tests lasting 6 000 functioning hours were proposed during which time 1 200 tons of REFIOM were planned to be treated. This expected to produce 112kg of vitrified product and 10kg of metallic residues each hour. Recycling of by-products was forecast to limit negatives impacts associated with the extraction of raw materials, such as noise, dust and air pollution. Results Due to difficulties encountered during the project's preliminary stages, this project was terminated ahead of schedule and therefore did not reach its objectives. The beneficiary faced complications with having the conception studies for the pilot plant completed. The initial conception studies did not deliver the required standards and this quality gap was considered a too high risk. In addition, the original cost estimates for the pilot plant were revised significantly upwards. The beneficiary therefore decided to stop the project, approximately half way through the proposed 41 month period. The project's main useful outputs refer to the tests conducted to choose between different technical options and validate the feasibility of proposed processes and technical solutions. These tests were carried out during work on the preliminary studies. The pilot was not constructed during the project but the LIFE project concept was presented at a number of conferences. Despite the project’s contractual difficulties, the beneficiary remains convinced of the potential environmental, economic and social benefits that Vitriflash technology has to offer and is still keen to pursue the project concept in the future. Findings from the LIFE project remain relevant.