this invention relates to an improved method and apparatus to effect the separation of component fractions from paper - containing and plastic - containing waste materials . this method and apparatus accepts materials of widely varying characteristics such as paper , plastics , glass , metal , food wastes and other materials to be inserted en masse into a rotating vessel equipped with lifting paddles and directional flighting . in this way the intimate contact of materials with moisture and heat is accomplished , thus effecting the repulping of paper materials . the repulped materials , as a result of directional tumbling , are dispersed throughout the vessel . because of the repulping of the pulpable materials , size reduction of the randomly large and odd - shaped pulpable material is accomplished . by virtue of the size reduction of the large and odd - shaped pulpable materials , the non - pulpable components are freed of the particle shapes and surfaces that affect separation . the repulping of the pulpable materials increases the bulk density of those materials , further enhancing their separation from the additional components . the recovered pulped product is suitable for recycling into the paper industry ; for combustion as a high quality fuel or for use as a feedstock for conversion into chemicals . the recovered non - pulpable materials such as plastics , glass , metals , aluminum and other materials are suitable for recycling into their producer industries ; as feedstock raw materials for additional manufacturing of products ; or any or all of these materials can be disposed of in a sanitary landfill as is the commonly accepted practice .