Preface

摘要

This special issue focuses on the status and trends for the treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Europe and all over the world. Particular attention is given to biological and thermal processes and their suitability to generate energy from MSW. The application of biological systems other than landfills for the treatment of organic solid wastes is wide spreading all over the world due to their economical advantages over thermal treatments. Among biological treatments both aerobic and anaerobic processes are assessed and compared in Part I of this special issue. The best available procedures to optimize the design, operation and process control of treatment plants are discussed, analyzing the criteria to maximize the plant performances both in terms of cost effectiveness and treatment efficiency. Particular attention is given to the need of pre-treating the substrates in order to change their physical and/or chemical characteristics before their biological degradation in order to make organic solids more accessible and degradable to microorganisms. The effectiveness of mechanical-biological treatment plants to produce materials that can be utilized for material/energy recovery is also assessed as well as the potential of fruit and vegetable wastes as novel biosorbents.