A waste treatment apparatus (10) comprised of hopper (12) with inlet (68) and lid (52), a shredder (14). The shredder (14) transfers the shredded waste into a first treatment auger (16) and subsequently to a second treatment auger (18). The screw in the second treatment auger is bi-directional and has two outlets, the first outlet, the auger hopper outlet (122) returns shredded waste into the hopper (12). The second outlet of the second treatment auger (18) is gate (20) where treated shredded waste exits after sterilisation. Depending on which direction the second transfer and treatment auger (18) is operating, the shredded waste is either transferred back into the hopper (12) of the apparatus for further treatment, or is ejected at the gate (20). Hopper (12), shredder casing (44) and first and second transport and treatment augers (16 and 18) together define a pressure vessel (72). Steam jackets (124) are applied around the pressure vessel (72).
