Abstract: A method for processing refuse material including comminuting metal free raw refuse and placing the comminuted refuse between heated platens, forcing the platens together to compress and dry the refuse, and scraping the adhering dried and compressed refuse from the surfaces of the platens, comminuting it and placing it in containers. The apparatus for carrying out the process of the present invention includes a conveyor belt to convey the refuse to a grinder that comminutes the raw refuse, a hopper receives the comminuted raw refuse from the grinder and supplies it to feed screws feeding the raw comminuted refuse onto heated metal platens that compress and dry the refuse. A scraper is provided for removing the adhered refuse from the platens, and a second hopper is disposed to receive the refuse scraped from the heated metal platens and to deposit it into a second grinder where it is comminuted into a small platelet-like flakes for final disposition in containers.