Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out various methods of material incineration includes an elongated combustion chamber housing a continuous conveyor belt supported beneath infrared heating units, air flow means to the combustion chamber and to the heating units to supply needed oxygen for cooling the heating units, a gas discharge system connected with the inlet end of the combustion chamber for counterflow of combustion gases, means for discharging the treated material at the end of the combustion chamber, and means for feeding the material to be treated into the combustion chamber. In a specific form of the system for sewage sludge treatment, the feed system includes means for grinding the sewage sludge and for pre-heating it to drive off moisture and fragment the particles.