Abstract: Method and means for converting organic materials, such as garbage, sewage sludge, wood and agricultural products, and the like, to fuels are disclosed which include pre-drying the organic feed material and feeding the same to a reactor for the pyrolysis thereof. Pyrolytic off-gases are fed to a condenser where a condensable fraction comprising, generally, oil and water is removed. The gas phase from the condenser is scrubbed by means of a scrubber, passed through an activated charcoal filter, and burned to supply heat for at least partially drying the reactor feed material.First gravity separating means separates the liquid phase from the condenser into oil and water fractions. Similarly, second gravity separating means, to which scrubber liquid is supplied, separates the scrubber liquid into oil and water fractions. The water fraction from the second gravity separating means is supplied as scrubbing liquid for scrubbing the gas phase.