The invention relates to the field of medical technology, more particularly to units for recycling infected medical waste. An apparatus for the thermal disinfection and destruction of medical waste (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus), a control unit, and a filtration system unit are mounted on a common installation platform. The apparatus comprises a heat chamber having a cover, an internal housing and an external housing. The apparatus also contains an air distributor. A perforated tube is mounted co-axially with the air distributor. The apparatus is provided with flexible electrical heating elements, in particular on the outer surface of the internal housing, under the bottom thereof, and on the air distributor respectively. The top part of the housing forms a chamber for collecting gases which form during waste processing. The apparatus has a closed system of air circulation which is equipped with ventilation pumps having delivery tubes which feed air into the air distributor. The ventilation pumps are arranged under the bottom of the external housing. The air intakes of the intake tubes are arranged in a gap between the bottoms of the housings. In the top part of the cylindrical walls of the internal housing there are openings which allow air to enter from the internal housing of the thermal chamber into the gap between the cylindrical walls of the external housing and the internal housing. The invention ensures uniform distribution of the temperature through the internal volume of the thermal chamber while simultaneously reducing heat losses.