An exhaust smoke processing system comprises air preheater for heating combustion air by exhaust smoke discharged from a boiler, a heat recoverer for heating a heat medium by exhaust smoke discharged from the air preheater, a dust collector for collecting soot and dust in exhaust smoke discharged from the heat recoverer, a wet-type exhaust smoke processing apparatus for processing exhaust smoke discharged from the dust collector, a reheater for heating exhaust smoke discharged from the wet-type exhaust smoke processing apparatus by the heat medium, and a heat medium circulation pipe passage for circulating the heating medium between the reheater and the heat recoverer. the system measures a heavy metal concentration in the exhaust smoke and adjusts the temperature of exhaust smoke at an outlet of the heat recoverer such that the measured value falls within a predetermined range.