TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The pyrolysis reactor includes a twin screw mixer, friction shear forces of mixing being used to produce the in-situ heating of the separated organic material. The char has an ash content of 9 - 20%; has a gross calorific value of 9000-10500 Btus/pound; has burning characteristics comparable to high volatile bituminous coal. The gaseous byproducts include byproduct water vapor and byproduct oils. In the system (S1), the pyrolytic zone comprises more than one distinct heating zone; barrier disposed between the cooling water and the synthetic coal eliminates a potential waste-water stream. The system (S2), further comprises a shredder to reduce the size of the sorted waste material to be converted; char cooler; mechanism for using the energy content of materials produced in the reactor for conversion to mechanical work to drive pyrolytic conversion in the reactor through in-situ heating. The char cooler is disposed downstream of the reactor, heat recovered from the char cooler heating feedwater entering the boiler. In the system (S2), the reactor includes at least two distinct pyrolytic zones; barrier disposed between the cooling water and the char eliminates a potential waste-water stream.Preferred System: The system (S1) further comprises a shredder to reduce the size of the sorted waste material prior to processing in the reactor; synthetic coal cooler (where the synthetic coal cooler is downstream of the reactor, heat recovered from the synthetic coal cooler being used for heating feedwater entering the boiler).Preferred Method: The separated organic material is dried and pyrolized in a single reactor. The byproduct water vapor is removed from the pyrolysis reactor through a first vent. The byproduct oils is removed from the pyrolysis reactor through a second or subsequent vents. The byproduct oils, gases and sensible heat are used in a boiler to produce mechanical work. The pyrolytic energy requirements are met by introducing mechanical energy which is converted to in-situ heating of the separated organic material within the pyrolysis reactor. The in-situ heating within the pyrolysis reactor enables heating and conversion of the organic materials without limitations in reaction rate imposed by transfer of heat through reactor walls and other surfaces; enables conversion of the separated organic materials without limitations in product uniformity imposed by delivery of heat by conduction through contact with reactor wall surfaces; provides for scaling of reactor capacity based upon reactor volume. The heating of the waste materials for pyrolysis is accomplished with minimal risk of ash softening and deposition on reactor walls and other heating surfaces. The in-situ viscous heating of the separated organic materials minimizes the loss of heat from the reactor, improving conversion efficiency.