Abstract: There is disclosed the sterilization of infectious hospital waste to generating a residue which is suitable for disposal. The invention comprises a first step of digestion at elevated temperatures and under highly alkaline condition for one to three hours. This step is combined with the necessary comminution, e.g., grinding, pulverizing and the like, to ensure substantially complete liquefaction of the wastes. The liquid reaction products from the first step are neutralized to a slightly alkaline pH, e.g., 7.5-9.5, and the waste is then subjected to enzymatic digestion with a suitable proteolytic enzyme for a short period of time. Preferably this proteinase treatment is combined with further comminution to further reduce any oversized particles that may remain in the waste following the first treatment. The enzymatic treatment is continued for a period from 30 to 90 minutes at temperatures most suitable for the selected enzyme and results in substantially complete hydrolysis of the proteins in the waste.