An apparatus for receiving non-orthogonal transmissions in a wireless communication system includes a processor configured to determine a first superposed symbol from a plurality of superposed symbols, based on superposition information and a first set of decoding information, wherein the first superposed symbol is corresponding to a first user equipment. The processor generates a residual signal based on the first superposed symbol and the superposition information, and determines a second superposed symbol based on the residual signal and a second set of decoding information, wherein the second superposed symbol is corresponding to a second user equipment. The superposition information comprises a quantity of the plurality of superposed symbols and an ordering of the plurality of superposed symbols.