Apparatus for emptying containers or bins, (100, 101) filled with horticultural products, and comprising: - a basin with an open top side and filled with liquid, typically water, - conveying and gripping means (2A, 2B, 4) for said containers, and arranged at a level substantially higher than the top liquid level inside said basin, able of moving said containers over a defined area of said basin and of rotating around a defined horizontal axis, and of offloading the respective products, - collecting means partially placed in the lower part of said basin, and partially outside of it, and able of collecting said horticultural products from said lower part and of lifting to an emersion level, comprising at least a first flexible conveyor (5,6), characterized in that said at least first flexible conveyor (5,6) slides along a closed path, partly over the bottom wall of said basin and partly in an emerged position, said apparatus further comprising separation and conveying means able to: - deviate floating items from the central surface of the liquid in said basin, - move said floating items towards a surface area adjacent to a definite draining wall of said basin, - remove said floating items from said surface area adjacent to said definite draining wall of said basin, said separation and conveying means including: - a spillway opening which is substantially horizontal, prolonged, arranged along said draining wall, at a level corresponding to, or a little lower, than said top liquid level in said basin, surface lamination means able of causing on said top liquid in said basin a surface flow bound towards said draining wall, and towards said prolonged opening. - a basin with an open top side and filled with liquid, typically water, - conveying and gripping means (2A, 2B, 4) for said containers, and arranged at a level substantially higher than the top liquid level inside said basin, able of moving said containers over a defined area of said basin and of rotating around a defined horizontal axis, and of offloading the respective products, - collecting means partially placed in the lower part of said basin, and partially outside of it, and able of collecting said horticultural products from said lower part and of lifting to an emersion level, comprising at least a first flexible conveyor (5,6), characterized in that said at least first flexible conveyor (5,6) slides along a closed path, partly over the bottom wall of said basin and partly in an emerged position, said apparatus further comprising separation and conveying means able to: - deviate floating items from the central surface of the liquid in said basin, - move said floating items towards a surface area adjacent to a definite draining wall of said basin, - remove said floating items from said surface area adjacent to said definite draining wall of said basin, - deviate floating items from the central surface of the liquid in said basin, - move said floating items towards a surface area adjacent to a definite draining wall of said basin, - remove said floating items from said surface area adjacent to said definite draining wall of said basin, - a spillway opening which is substantially horizontal, prolonged, arranged along said draining wall, at a level corresponding to, or a little lower, than said top liquid level in said basin,