Abstract: The core samples of solidified hazardous waste, such as nuclear waste, are extracted from waste material in a drum by inserting rotating tubular core drills into the waste material and then withdrawing the core drills with core samples of the waste material accumulated within the core drills. Preferably, the core samples are retained within plastic tubular retainers which are withdrawn from the core drills and capped. While the rotating tubular core drills are being inserted into the sample, pressurized gas is applied through are annular space between the tubular sample retainers and the walls of the core drills to cool the cutting heads and to expel cuttings away from the end of the drills up to the top surface of the material. In addition, the pressurized gas serves to keep contaminants off the outside surface of the plastic tubular sample containers.