NOVELTY - The method of harnessing the chemical energy present in combustible refuse comprises (a) compressing the combustible refuse by high compression densification to form solid briquettes, where the solid briquettes are storage-stable; (b) gasifying the briquettes in a gasification unit at at least 1000 degreesC, where the solid briquettes are vaporized to form a fuel gas; and (c) venting and/or combusting the fuel gas and deriving mechanical, thermal or electrical energy from the gas.    USE - Used for safe disposal of domestic and industrial waste.    ADVANTAGE - Provides means of producing reusable briquettes from urban waste in a cost effective, energy effective manner, as well as reducing urban waste in an economical, ecological friendly process, capturing the available energy within the waste.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a high compression densification apparatus having (i) an enclosed housing with a sump portion containing a lubricant and at least one overlying multi-segmented ram slide portion having lengthwise bore; (ii) an elongated ram slidably mounted within the bore of the ram slide portion for reciprocating movement; (iii) device coupled to the ram for providing reciprocating motive power; (iv) device for controllably supplying combustible raw materials to a compaction chamber displaced along the bore of the ram slide portion; (v) die device receiving the raw materials from the compaction chamber and having a tapered bore of larger diameter at the end adjacent to the compaction chamber than at an output end for compressively extruding the raw material into predetermined shape, upon exiting the output end, in response to the reciprocating movement of the ram; (vi) several detachable housing covers overlying the ram slide portion and forming a part of the lengthwise bore and the compaction chamber, each of the housing covers being individually detachable from the ram slide portion for permitting access to regions subject to wear located along the ram slide portion, so facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus; and (vii) a cross-member brace positioned to brace a housing cover positioned over the die device.