Apparatus and process for treating medical hazardous wastes

An apparatus for treating moist infectious refuse with microwaves to heat refuse to at least a minimum temperature for disinfection, said apparatus comprising an outwardly sealable enclosure having a loading section and a treatment section, said loading section constructed and arranged to receive refuse and deliver refuse to said treatment section in a moist condition wherein said treatment section comprises:

• a. a microwave chamber having an inlet and an output end and incorporating a microwave source and a conveying device constructed and arranged to move refuse from said inlet end to said output end past said microwave source for heating refuse to at least said minimum temperature;
• and
• b. a temperature maintenance chamber having an inlet and an outlet end, said inlet end connected to said output end of said microwave chamber, said temperature maintenance chamber incorporating a conveying device constructed and arranged to move refuse from said inlet end of said temperature maintenance chamber to said outlet end of said temperature maintenance chamber and heating means for maintaining the refuse at said minimum temperature during movement through said temperature maintenance chamber.