The DryVac technology provides a cost effective integrated process for dewatering and drying, handling organic and inorganic waste streams equally well. In a single operation involving two stages, the liquid waste is first dewatered and then dried. While the DryVac unit appears physically similar to standard plate filter presses, the actual plates are replaced by DryVac Elastic Envelope Modules (DEEMs) {patent pending}. These modules expand and contract according to pressure being applied either externally or internally.