Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for treating municipal solid waste, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for treating and recycling municipal solid waste not separately collected, and also for minimizing the amount of final waste to be buried.

Abstract: A biological decomposition toilet automatically controls stirring of the mixture of organic waste and activating material as a function of the moisture content of the mixture. Rather than sensing mixture moisture content as a function of water vapor pressure above the mixture, the moisture sensor is disposed below the surface of the mixture, either in a specially-formed recess in the toilet wall or directly immersed in the mixture. A heater is disposed near the air inlet opening and is energized when the sensed moisture is above an exceedingly high moisture level so as to evaporate moisture from the incoming air. The stirrer mechanism includes plural motors and respective parallel spaced drive shafts having radial mixing prongs spaced longitudinally and axially along each shaft. Adjacent shafts are rotated in opposite directions. The prongs of any one shaft have equal lengths, but the prongs of adjacent shafts are of different lengths to encourage a serpentine circulation path for the mixture during stirring.