This paper is concerned with combustion of a refuse derived fuel in a small-scale flame. The objective is to provide a direct comparison of the RDF flame properties with properties Of pulverized coal flames fired under similar boundary conditions. Measurements of temperature, gas composition (O-2, CO2, CO, NO) and burnout have demonstrated fundamental differences between the coal flames and the ME names. The pulverized coals ignite in the close vicinity of the burner and most of the Combustion is completed within the first 300 ms. Despite the high volatile content of the RDF, its combustion extends far into the furnace and after 1.8 s residence time only a 94% burnout has been achieved. This effect has been attributed not only to the larger particle size of fluffy RDF particles but also to differences in RDF volatiles if compared to coal volatiles. Substantial amounts of oily tars have been observed in the RDF flames even though the flame temperatures exceeded 1300 degrees C. The presence of these tars has enhanced the stagging propensity of RDF Parties and rapidly growing deposits of high carbon content have been observed. (c) 2008 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.