An apparatus and process for the separation, recovery and recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) in which hot water 48 is added to shredded and homogenized MSW 2 as it enters a rotating feed preparation drum 34 equipped with internal lifter blades 36. The blades 36 and rotation of the drum 34 cause mixing and pulping of the MSW before discharge into a rotating thermal processor 56 also equipped with lifter blades 58 and cone section 64, and in which the moist MSW 2 is heated by heating the hot gases in the processor by a flame from burner 62 which converts the moisture in the MSW to steam. The steam permeates through the MSW as it is turned and lifted in the thermal processor 56, causing further pulping. The now cooked and treated MSW 2 is then fed to a conveyor 68 for transportation to a trommel screen for the separation of recyclable components. In a preferred embodiment plugs 70, 72 of MSW are maintained at the exit and entrance to the thermal processor 56 and act to provide a seal to maintain and control the temperature within the thermal processor 56 by reducing the egress of steam therefrom.