This study evaluates the combustion and emission characteristics of a domestic boiler fired with pellets of pine, industrial wood wastes and peach stones. Initially, the boiler performance, firing pine pellets, was evaluated as a function of the thermal input. Subsequently, the influence of the pellets type on boiler performance was also examined. The results reveal that the type of pellets affects significantly the boiler emissions characteristics, with the pine pellets performing significantly better than the pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones. The boiler thermal efficiency is not negatively affected when fired with the pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones. Typical operating conditions of the boiler are not suitable for the use of wood wastes and peach stones pellets as CO and HC emissions are superior. The pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones have, however, an attractive potential for use in domestic boilers, through the optimization of the boiler operating conditions, being this a sustainable means of energetic valorisation of residues with no specific use. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.