The Rotoclave system utilizes a pressure vessel with a unique rotating internal drum that accepts medical waste materials in unopened containers and subjects them to agitation. Heat and moisture are introduced in the form of steam generated by the facility's boiler. The heat initially causes the containers to soften and, during agitation, to rupture and spill their contents into the rotating drum. There, the moisture absorbable materials become saturated and transfer heat through themselves. The combination of high temperature, pressure and moisture, in conjunction with the unique method of agitation ensures that all materials will contact the necessary sterilizing steam. Standard autoclaves cannot guarantee that the steam will interact with the entire waste stream. Thus, even after stationary autoclaving, it is likely that some of the waste has not been sterilized.

The presence of moisture, high heat and pressure during the continued processing by the Rotoclave causes pulpable materials such as paper to become repulped and for plastics to deform and shrink. This action decreases the volume of material being processed in the reactive environment of the Rotoclave. The results of the operation of each processing cycle are automatically printed with the date, time of day, length of processing, temperature and pressure for a permanent record. After completion of the process, the materials are shredded to destroy all recognizable objects including sharps. The result is a volume-reduced (up to 85%), unrecognizable mass of materials that is pathologically and physically harmless and can be disposed of as ordinary municipal waste.