Abstract: A method for disinfecting or sterilizing infectious waste is described in which infectious waste is introduced into a pressure chamber, the pressure chamber is evacuated, a fluid fed in so as to fill the pressure chamber with saturated steam, the infectious waste remains for a specified disinfection or sterilization period in the heated saturated steam and the pressure chamber is then aerated so as to remove the disinfected or sterilized waste. An apparatus for performing the method is also described, this apparatus comprising one or more pressure vessels (2) which each have at least one access means (3) and at least one infrared radiation source. The dimensions of these pressure vessels (2) are preferably not much greater than a plastic collecting container for the infectious waste.