Abstract: The method and apparatus for forming a structural member from solid waste which consists of comminuting or shredding solid waste into particles one inch or smaller, adding a small amount of a thermoplastic material such as polyurethane or polyethylene to produce bonding, then heating the mixture and forcing the heated mixture through a restrictive extrusion die under high compression which forms the same in a predetermined transverse cross sectional configuration. Thereupon, the shaped compressed mixture is allowed to cool while maintaining the predetermined shape, and upon cooling, a thermoplastic cover encapsulates the compressed shaped product. The structural member is then cut into the desired lengths.