Abstract: A process for the low-emission drying of wood chips has a first dryer (2) directly heated by means of a combustion chamber (3). Arranged in series in relation to this dryer (2) is a second, indirectly heated dryer (5) whose exhaust air is recycled to the combustion chamber (3) via line (7). The exhaust gases discharged from the dryer (2) are passed to a second combustion chamber (11) where they are heated to at least 300.degree. C., whereby the pollutants are eliminated. The heat used for this purpose can be recovered by means of a waste heat boiler (14) and used for heating the second dryer (5).