The pyrolysis characteristics of municipal solid waste (MSW), paper sludge (PS) and their blends were studied through a thermogravimetric simultaneous thermal analyzer from room temperature to 1000 degrees C. Meanwhile their kinetics were studied by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahira-S unose (KAS) methods. The mass proportions of PS in the blends were 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, respectively and the experiments were carried out at different heating rates (30, 40 and 50 degrees C/min). The initial temperature of MSW was lower than that of PS and the terminated temperature was higher than PS. The comprehensive characteristic index decreased progressively along with the decrease of the MSW proportion. The values of average activation energies calculated by FWO and KAS methods were highly consistent. The average activation energy reached the minimum number, 96.7 kJ/mol by KAS and 11.56 kJ/mol by FWO, with the proportion of PS was 50%. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.