Apparatus for compacting solid waste materials and its accessory facilities

A method of cleaning an apparatus for compacting a solid waste material comprising radioactive material including a plastics material, said apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical body having a charging inlet for charging the solid waste material therethrough into the hollow cylindrical body, a heating portion for heating the solid waste material in said hollow cylindrical body, and a discharging outlet for discharging the solid waste material from said hollow cylindrical body;

• a rotatable shaft disposed in said hollow cylindrical body and having a helical screw blade thereon, said screw blade and an inner wall surface of said hollow cylindrical body being spaced from each other with a clearance provided therebetween for allowing the solid waste material in said hollow cylindrical body to form a bridge therein;
• support means for radially movably supporting an end of said rotatable shaft;
• a prime mover coupled to said end of the rotatable shaft through said support means;
• and an outlet nozzle coupled to said discharging outlet for compressing the solid waste material discharged from said discharging outlet, said method comprising the step of:
• (a) charging a solids cleaning material into said hollow cylindrical body to force a remaining solid waste material out of said hollow cylindrical body.