This invention provides a system and method for pyrolyzing and/or gasifying material such as organically coated waste and organic materials including biomass, industrial waste, municipal solid waste and sludge. In a first mode of operation the method/system heats the material in a processing chamber (10) by passing hot gas therethrough. This pyrolyzes and/or gasifies the organic content it to produce syngas and, invariably, soot. In a second mode of operation the method/system increases the oxygen content of the hot gas such that the oxygen within the hot gas reacts with the heated soot to form carbon monoxide.