Method for recycling waste material with reduced odor emission

A method for treating waste material including waste paper comprising the steps of:

• introducing the waste material and dilution water into a pressure vessel;
• treating the waste material in the pressure vessel at an elevated processing temperature of at least about 212° F. and an elevated processing pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a treated waste material including substantially re-pulped waste paper;
• thereafter introducing cooling water into the pressure vessel so as to cool the treated waste material in the pressure vessel to a discharge temperature less than about 140° F. and reduce odor emitted by the treated waste material;
• and
• thereafter discharging the treated waste material from the pressure vessel,
• wherein the dilution water is introduced into the pressure vessel in an amount up to about 3 parts by weight of a total amount of water in the pressure vessel to about 1 part by weight waste material and the cooling water is introduced into the pressure vessel in an amount such that the total amount of water present in the pressure vessel after the cooling step is at least about 3.5 parts by weight to about 1 part by weight treated waste material.