The combustion of plastic (PVC), rubber (TR) and leather (L) in different atmospheres (80N(2)/200(2), 80CO(2)/200(2), 70CO(2)/300(2), 60CO(2)/400(2), 50CO(2)/500(2)) was analyzed thermogravimetrically. Regardless of individual material or blend, the replacement of N-2 only by CO2 resulted in smaller weight loss rates, a change in reactions occurring above 600 degrees C and a worse burnout, and the oxygen-enriched combustion technology could alleviated the inhibitory effects to some extent. Above 600 degrees C, the effect of O-2 concentration on the weight loss rate in CO2/O-2 atmosphere depended on the given operating conditions, but still postponed the location of the peaks. The characteristics of blends could be predicted roughly by the individual fuels and blending ratio. The addition of TR to L or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) hindered the burnout, and the addition of PVC to L or TR hindered the char-CO2 reaction. For the same individual material or blend, the apparent activation energies for the first two reactions in 70CO(2)/300(2) approximately equal to those in 80N(2)/200(2), while that the value for the third reactions in two atmospheres differed greatly. This work contributes to the understanding of MSW (municipal solid waste) oxygen-enriched combustion and development of MSW oxy-fuel combustion. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.