Microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, co-occurring contaminants in sewage sludge and wet waste, where conventional treatment primarily transfers them rather than destroys them. This work, developed through collaboration between Cranfield University and AtkinsRéalis, draws on emerging hydrothermal insights to examine how advanced thermal conversion (ATC) can shift the sector from containment toward destruction-based solutions. We map the major and emerging ATC techniques across the hydrothermal continuum, spanning subcritical to supercritical regimes, and consider how temperature, pressure, and changing properties of water govern the breakdown of polymeric hydrocarbons and the cleavage of carbon-fluorine bonds. A secondary thread addresses resource recovery, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, illustrating how the same hydrothermal routes can couple contaminant destruction with nutrient valorisation, extending the relevance of ATC beyond remediation alone. By framing these techniques along the hydrothermal regime, we clarify where each contaminant class is most effectively destroyed and where co-destruction and recovery become feasible. We close by identifying the capability and training needs emerging alongside ATC adoption, which is an opportunity to build sector-ready expertise within the bioresources community as these technologies mature.