An apparatus and process for the separation, recovery and recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) in which hot water 48 is added to shredded and homogenized MSW 2 as it enters a rotating feed preparation drum 34 equipped with internal lifter blades 36 . The blades 36 and rotation of the drum 34 cause mixing and pulping of the MSW before discharge into a rotating thermal processor 56 also equipped with lifter blades 58 and cone section 64 , and in which the moist MSW 2 is heated by heating the hot gases in the processor by a flame from burner 62 which converts the moisture in the MSW to steam. The steam permeates through the MSW as it is turned and lifted in the thermal processor 56 , causing further pulping. The now cooked and treated MSW 2 is then fed to a conveyor 68 for transportation to a trommel screen for the separation of recyclable components. In a preferred embodiment plugs 70, 72 of MSW are maintained at the exit and entrance to the thermal processor 56 and act to provide a seal to maintain and control the temperature within the thermal processor 56 by reducing the egress of steam therefrom.
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