An apparatus for processing medical waste including: (i) a drum defining a substantially cylindrical treatment chamber having a closed end and a substantially open end, wherein the drum is rotationally balanced about a rotational axis (ii) an enclosing body supporting the drum (iii) a movable barrier for selectively closing the opening for accessing the open end of the drum (iv) a structure for supporting the enclosing body so that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum is positioned or can be positioned in at least one position between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees. According to one aspect, the apparatus has a chemical generator for generating a germicidal agent. According to yet another aspect, the apparatus has a movable mounting such that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum can be selectively moved.
