System and method for processing waste material

A process for biologically neutralizing waste material, comprising the steps of:

• providing waste material to be biologically neutralized;
• grinding waste material to form particles of a predetermined maximum size;
• mixing the ground waste material with a liquid and circulating the liquid and entrained waste material through a closed, pressurized waste processing circuit;
• and
• heating and circulating the liquid-waste material to an elevated temperature in excess of the boiling point of the liquid at standard pressure, said elevated temperature being sufficient to effect biological neutralization of the waste material, all surfaces of said waste processing system with which said waste material comes into contact being processed to attain said biological neutralization.

A system for processing waste to a prescribed level of biological inactivity, comprising:

• a receptacle for receiving waste material, the receptacle having a re-sealable cover, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet;
• means for reducing the dimensions of the waste material and for mixing the reduced waste material with a processing liquid to form a liquid-waste mixture;
• means for circulating the liquid-waste mixture within a closed, pressurized circuit including said receptacle and said waste dimension reducing means;
• means for heating the liquid-waste mixture to a prescribed temperature above the boiling point of the liquid at standard pressure;
• and
• control means for implementing selective operation of said waste dimension reducing means, said circulating means, and said heating means to effect waste processing at the prescribed temperature for a prescribed time interval to effect biological neutralization of the waste material and all surfaces of the waste processing system with which the waste material comes into contact.