Abstract: The method of the present invention reduces the emissions of waste oxide gas produced within a thermal oxidizer by the use of a multizone waste thermal oxidizer, comprising at least one primary combustion zone and at least one downstream waste destruction zone. By performing the primary combustion of fuel prior to the destruction of at least a portion of the waste, it has been discovered that NOx emissions from the waste destruction process can be reduced economically and without significant loss of overall waste destruction efficiency.