Abstract: A feeding apparatus for feeding whole tires into a cement kiln comprising a feed opening in the shell of the kiln, a passageway including a sleeve extending within and outside the kiln, an arcuate sector valve device for closing the passageway and timed to open so as to allow the tires to fall into the kiln through the passageway. The sector valve having an outer perforated wall and an inner wall, the perforated wall allowing ambient air to circulate between the outer and inner wall to keep the outer wall cool for contact with the tires. A transfer device is provided for transferring the tires onto the feeding apparatus wherein the transfer device includes fingers while the feeding apparatus includes a fork receiving tray interdigitated with the fingers to pick up the tires as the kiln rotates.