An apparatus is provided that receives waste and generates electrical power or thermal energy with minimal NOx emissions. A gasifier is provided that receives the waste and air to produce fuel gas for delivery to a fluidly coupled reformer. The reformer receives the fuel gas, recycled flue gas, and air to auto-thermally produce a reformed fuel gas and destroy fuel gas pollutants at a first temperature without a catalyst. A burner is fluidly coupled to the reformer and receives recycled flue gas and air to oxidize the reformed fuel gas at a second temperature that prevents nitrogen oxide formation, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature. A quench chamber is fluidly coupled to the burner and receives flue gas from the burner for quenching with recycled flue gas. A heat recovery system is fluidly coupled to the reformer, burner, and quench chamber to extract usable energy.