apparatus and a method are disclosed for generating energy from the essentially complete disassociation of organic matter in a plasma arc furnace operating under pyrolytic conditions . energy is produced by the disassociation in the form of synthesis gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be used to generate electricity , and heat energy from the process and from burning the synthesis gasses are also used to generate electricity . in addition , inorganic matter that is input to the furnace is rendered ecologically and biologically safe and is extracted from the furnace to be re - cycled into new uses such as insulation and road paving material . organic matter , along with non - organic matter , is pre - processed and sized before being input to the plasma arc furnace . the pre - processed matter is fed into a molten silica bath in the furnace through hollow electrodes that are inserted into the silica bath to create the plasma arc . insertion of the matter through the hollow electrodes provides better disassociation of the waste into its basic elements for re - use , re - cycling and disposal as ecologically and biologically safe materials .