NOVELTY - The refuse is gasified to combustible gas by reaction with steam within an electric arc discharge in the absence of oxygen and/or nitrogen.    USE - For treatment of discharges derived from the production of polymers, biomasses, the residues from agricultural and industrial processes, solid urban refuse containing paper, cardboard, wood, plastics, kitchen residues, tyres etc.    ADVANTAGE - Produces clean and easily reusable combustible gas free from pollutants which are difficult to eliminate such as furans, dioxins, or oxides of nitrogen. Gasification yields are improved.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included    (1) the preparation of the charge of refuse to be supplied for gasification by    (a) coarse grinding,    (b) classification with possible removal of heavy materials and metals,    (c) possible fine grinding,    (d) homogenization,    (e) analysis and determination of the moisture content and elementary composition of the refuse for the purpose of calculating the addition of water,    (f) deaeration and superheating under the action of mechanical pressure,    (g) decompression, and    (h) direct supply by dropping into the electric arc in the absence of the main gases constituting air, and    (2) the apparatus for the gasification of the refuse comprising    (i) a hopper provided with extraction means,    (ii) a compression device operable to cause progressive compression and extrusion of the refuse supplied from the extraction means with the elimination of air and superheating of water present in the refuse,    (iii) decompression means associated with the compression device and operable to obtain a rapid pressure drop in the refuse exiting from the compression device, with the formation of steam from the superheated water contained in the refuse, and    (iv) an electric arc gasification device with a gasification chamber having a gas tight inlet aperture with which the decompression means are associated and provided with gas tight extraction means for the removal of the gasification residues.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing is a schematic representation of the gasification plant and process.    Grinder (1)    Rotary classifier (2)    Conveyor belt (3)    Magnetic separator belt (4)    High speed mill (5)    Conveyor system (6)    Silos (7,8,9)    Gasification apparatus (11)    Recovery device (12)    Washing column (13)    Gasometer (14)    Gravel filters (15)    Engines (16)    Alternators (17)    Steam generator (18)    Torch (19)