Abstract: System and method for treating toxic washwater from ink, paint, pesticides and the like. The wash water is heated to a temperature on the order of 100.degree. F. in a sump positioned beneath a bed of horse manure media containing aerobic fungi and bacteria. Washwater is foam lifted from the sump to a level above the media and allowed to filter down through the media. Hot dry air is blown into the media from the side to maintain the media at a temperature on the order of 100.degree. F. and thereby promote microbiological activity and evaporation of the water in the media. Warm moist air from the media is cooled to condense the moisture, and the condensed moisture is collected as distilled water. A prefilter removes excessive amounts of solids from the washwater before it is introduced into the sump, and a Carnot cycle system provides the necessary heating and cooling for the water, media and air.

Abstract: System and method for converting and recycling liquid-borne organic waste materials from a processing plant. The waste material is passed through a compost bed containing a fecal material which processes the organic waste biologically, removes liquid from the waste by adsorption and absorption, and filters out colloidal particles. The compost bed may be mixed with other natural and/or synthetic materials to enhance aeration and/or digestion of the waste material. Any waste material which remains after passing through the compost bed is passed through a filter bed containing charcoal, rock and/or synthetic materials, then recycled through the compost and filter beds. Warm air is passed through the filter bed and the compost to provide aeration for the composting process and removes the adsorbed and absorbed water from these beds. The air is then passed through another charcoal filter bed, following which it is condensed.