An apparatus for treating waste includes a vessel and DC and/or AC plasma torches with a variable flame mounted with the vessel. The flames generated by the torches can be adjusted depending on the characteristics of the waste being treated. Waste can be introduced into the vessel and heated with energy from the flame. The energy can melt or vitrify the inorganic portion of the waste and gasify and dissociate the organic portion of the waste. This dissociation can destroy the hazardous or toxic constituency of the waste.