To provide an efficient garbage classifying method and apparatus, which are excellent in living conditions, and don't incur a jumboizing of the apparatus and a decrease in process efficiency, and an increase in power consumption.

A plastic bag packed with garbage or the like is charged in a hopper 2 to be torn, and the garbage or the like and sewage are separated by the hopper 2 to be discharged. While the garbage or the like is stirred in a separation duct 6 and conveyed, a water content is removed and the garbage or the like is charged in a rotary hammering device 7. In the separation duct 6, jet steam is applied to the garbage or the like by a superheated steam producing device 3 to disintegrate the garbage or the like and remove the water content. In the rotary hammering device 7, the garbage or the like, particularly, the garbage adhered to the plastic bag is hammered by chains 7d, separated from the plastic bag, and discharged from a discharge port 7f while the plastic bag is transferred to a cyclone 8 through the discharge port 7b.