A process and apparatus for recycling municipal domestic waste comprises subjecting the waste to steam (12) at 150 °C - 200 °C at above atmospheric pressure but less than twice atmospheric pressure. After steam treatment, the resultant material is separated (E) into constituent parts and biomass and/or plastics subjected to further treatment (G, H). The further treatment preferably produces bioethanol from the biomass and diesel from the plastics. As an alternative, some or all of the biomass may be gasified in order to produce hydrogen which may, in turn be fed to a fuel cell to produce an electrical output.
