NOVELTY - A method and apparatus for the hydrocarbon gasification of solid waste materials containing metallic values is provided.    USE - The invention is particularly useful for household garbage and industrial and agricultural waste.    ADVANTAGE - A multi-purpose apparatus and method is provided suitable for gasifying solid organic materials mixed with metallic materials, treating minerals such as glass and non-refractory materials, and optionally for adding carbonaceous materials. The apparatus has high energy yield and produces rich hydrocarbon product gas comparable to natural gas.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The apparatus comprises: a reaction vessel including a solid waste materials inlet, a steam inlet and a reaction chamber having a means for maintaining an internal pressure of up to 10 atmospheres; feeding means for introducing solid materials into the reaction chamber through the solid materials inlet without extraction of gases through the feeding means; means for extracting air from the solid waste materials; steam producing means for supplying steam to the reaction chamber through the steam inlet; a grate disposed in the reaction chamber above the steam inlet and below the feeding means, the grate having openings of an effective size to pass ash and steam; ash extracting means disposed below the grate for extracting ash from the reaction chamber without introduction and without extraction of gases through the ash extracting means; and an outlet through which gaseous by-products exit the reaction chamber. The method for hydrocarbon gasification of solid waste materials comprises: feeding the solid waste materials into a reaction vessel which includes a reaction chamber with a solid materials inlet, a steam inlet, a grate to pass ash and steam, and an outlet for ash extraction and an outlet for gaseous by-product; and maintaining the reaction chamber full; introducing steam at a temperature of 650-900degreesC and under a pressure of up to 10 atmospheres through the steam inlet, such that a countercurrent effect is produced with solid waste materials contained within four reactions areas within the reaction chamber, the four reaction areas including: a metallic gas area, a coke gas area, a vegetable and plastic gas area, and a drying area; extracting the ash from the reaction chamber through the outlet for ash extraction; extracting the gaseous by-product from the reaction chamber through the outlet for gaseous by-product, the gaseous by-product containing at least 90 wt % hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and water at 160degreesC; introducing metallic oxides mixed with the solid waste materials into the reaction chamber, the metallic oxides acting as catalysts for coke gases, acting as catalysts for the reduction of organic substances containing oxygen, providing for the neutralisation of organic acid substances, and for the creation of oxide compounds in the metallic gas area; adjusting the amount of gaseous by-product with the amount of steam introduced in the steam inlet and adjusting the thermal balance with the temperature and the pressure of the steam.