Municipal solid waste management: Dynamics, risk assessment, ecological influence, advancements, constraints and perspectives

Abstract

Global energy consumption has been increasing in tandem with economic growth, putting pressure on the world's supply of renewable energy sources. Municipal Solid waste (MSW) has been reported contributing immensely to the improvement of a secure environment and renewable sources. Energy scarcity and conventional MSW disposal methods in developing countries lead towards many environmental and economic issues. Scientists have been able to experiment with various waste-to-energy conversion technologies in light of this situation. This communication highlights and reviews WtE technologies to convert MSW and other feedstocks into electricity, hydrogen gas, bioethanol along with other value added products like fertilizer(s), platform chemicals as an environmentally friendly products. This review comprehensively summarized the dynamics, risk assessment, ecological influence, advancements, constraints and perspectives altogether in field of municipal solid waste management and treatment. Stare-of-the-art information on ecological influence and risk assessment in handling and transportation of municipal solid waste has been provided. Advanced trends involved in remediation of emerging pollutants and resources obtained from municipal solid wastes have been uncovered. Lastly, this paper comprises constraints and perspectives for uncovering MSW based circular bioeconomy aspects.

Keywords: Landfill; Risk assessment; Sustainable energy; Treatment technologies; Waste to energy.