Abstract: Hospital wastes or the like are sterilized and compressed for disposal by apparatus having a waste receptacle with a waste receiving opening at the top and having a sterilizer casing, the receptacle and casing being in telescoping relationship. The receptacle initially protrudes from the casing in order to receive the wastes and is then translated into the casing to close the casing and thereby enable sterilization of the contents by admission of pressurized steam. A helical rotary conveyer extends along the axis of the receptacle and has several functions. The conveyer moves wastes from the receptacle into the casing and precompacts such wastes prior to the sterilization cycle and may be used to stir the wastes during sterilization. After opening of a casing door, the conveyer operates to discharge the sterile wastes from the casing and a translatable ram forces the material into an adjacent compactor container.