Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming contaminated scrap metal, more particularly an improved reverberatory furnace designed for melting scrap. The amount of hydrocarbons volatilized from the melting of contaminated scrap is measured and the fumes are passed into the main hearth for burning. As the amount of fuel value contained within the fumes increases, the amount of fuel provided to the burner is proportionally reduced while the amount of oxygen is kept constant. This will ensure that the amount of fuel and the amount of oxygen present within the furnace is completely burned without excessive free oxygen or unburned fuel building up within the furnace or furnace exhaust. The burner will be operating under lean fuel conditions or under fuel rich conditions such that the flame temperature is lower than at stoichiometric firing, whereby the burners create reduced NOx.