The application of self-propagating reactions for environmental protection is addressed in this work with particular emphasis on certain reactor engineering aspects. Possible reactor configurations are analyzed in view of large-scale applicability of SHS technology for residue recycling and safe waste disposal. A two-dimensional batch SHS reactor model in which heat transfer phenomena are described in detail is presented. The model results are illustrated by considering the treatment of zinc hydrometallurgical wastes as a reference system. The model not only estimates the total cycle time of a potential batch operation but also analyzes the time-space temperature levels of the reactor to guarantee operational safety. Some economical aspects are also addressed by taking advantage of information from SHS processes for materials synthesis.