Abstract: Polymeric organic compounds are pyrolyzed to remove them from objects by heating in a first vacuum chamber to render flowable such polymers as are fusible at a temperature below that at which appreciable degradation is initiated. The fused polymer drops by free fall from the first chamber to a second vacuum chamber through a conduit connecting the two without contacting any intervening structure. The second chamber is maintained at a substantially lower temperature, where the polymer resolidifies. Upon further heating, polymer remaining in the first chamber is volatilized and withdrawn from the chamber to a water mist scrubber where it is largely trapped. Remaining vapors in the scrubber are drawn through a vapor separator to a vent stack.