Patent ID: 7294272

Claim:
A method of treating waste material, said method comprising: providing a bioreactor for digesting liquid-based waste material using bacteria, said bioreactor being operable under at least one of anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic conditions, wherein said bioreactor is connected to an oxygen control system for controlling the concentration of oxygen in said bioreactor; providing a membrane treatment unit in fluid communication with said bioreactor; passing liquid from said bioreactor through said membrane treatment unit, thereby separating fine particulate solids from said liquid; providing a decomposition chamber for decomposing substantially solid waste material, wherein said bioreactor and said decomposition chamber are in fluid communication; adding a liquid-based waste material to said bioreactor; digesting said liquid-based waste material in said bioreactor, thereby generating a liquid and a substantially solid waste material; and transferring said substantially solid waste material to said decomposition chamber.