A separation system tears apart trash bags in a manner that will ensure that the trash and recyclable material inside the bag will fall out onto a conveyer while at the same time maintaining the bag in substantially one piece. The bag is dropped onto two cylinders that rotate in opposite directions. The first cylinder hooks the container with a set of fins and then presents the bag to a second set of fins protruding from the second cylinder. The second set of fins have relatively dull tips that pull the bag apart allowing the contents inside the bag to drop down onto a conveyer. A set of steel fingers are attached between adjacent fins to prevent small bags from slipping though the system without first being broken. The fins automatically push the empty bags out of the system in substantially one piece.