The sewage sludge fed into the belt drier with dry substance (ds) content of 15%. The wet sludge is granulated in a specially designed feeding unit and is extruded to a "spaghetti" shaped form. Thus, the surface area is enlarged, allowing intensive water evaporation and a high specific drying performance. After the distribution to a slotted drier belt, the material is conveyed through tunnel-like drying chambers at the end of which the material is discharged to a conveyor. In the drying chambers, hot drying gases flow through the product which are normally recirculated into the drier.