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Composting as a Sustainable Solution for Organic Solid Waste Management: Current Practices and Potential Improvements

Author

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  • Elena Elisabeta Manea

    (National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, 57–73 Drumul Podu Dambovitei, District 6, 060652 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Costel Bumbac

    (National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, 57–73 Drumul Podu Dambovitei, District 6, 060652 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Laurentiu Razvan Dinu

    (National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, 57–73 Drumul Podu Dambovitei, District 6, 060652 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Marius Bumbac

    (Faculty of Science and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Romania)

  • Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu

    (Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Romania)

Abstract

With increases in global population and urbanization, the production of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is growing rapidly, thus contributing to social and environmental concerns for sustainable waste management. This study addresses the research gap in optimizing composting, hypothesizing that integrating best practices and recent innovations can enhance the efficiency of the process. Data were collected through a systematic review of existing literature using Google Scholar and Scopus databases. The review provides an overview of municipal organic waste composting, outlining its processes, benefits, and challenges with the aim of identifying key area of further improvement and possibilities of adopting recent technological innovations. The analysis emphasized that technological advances in composting, as microbial inoculants or in-vessel composting have greatly improved the efficiency and quality of the resulting compost. However, several challenges remain, including managing contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics, ensuring the compost quality and safety and addressing socioeconomic barriers that prevent widespread adoption. Moreover, process optimization, environmental and economic evaluation, as well as political and public involvement are essential to unlock the whole potential of composting systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Elisabeta Manea & Costel Bumbac & Laurentiu Razvan Dinu & Marius Bumbac & Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu, 2024. "Composting as a Sustainable Solution for Organic Solid Waste Management: Current Practices and Potential Improvements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-25, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6329-:d:1441824
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yash Pal Singh & Sanjay Arora & Vinay K. Mishra & Arjun Singh, 2023. "Composting of Municipal Solid Waste Using Earthworms and Ligno-Cellulolytic Microbial Consortia for Reclamation of the Degraded Sodic Soils and Harnessing Their Productivity Potential," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Brayan Alexis Parra-Orobio & Jonathan Soto-Paz & Jhon Alexander Hernández-Cruz & Martha Cecilia Gómez-Herreño & Isabel Cristina Domínguez-Rivera & Edgar Ricardo Oviedo-Ocaña, 2023. "Evaluation of Biochar as an Additive in the Co-Composting of Green Waste and Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Jianfei Zeng & Frederick C. Michel & Guangqun Huang, 2023. "Comparison and Evaluation of GHG Emissions during Simulated Thermophilic Composting of Different Municipal and Agricultural Feedstocks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Krystyna Lelicińska-Serafin & Piotr Manczarski & Anna Rolewicz-Kalińska, 2023. "An Insight into Post-Consumer Food Waste Characteristics as the Key to an Organic Recycling Method Selection in a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Jingnan Li & Haiyang Zhang & Li Zheng, 2023. "Influence of Organic Amendments Based on Garden Waste for Microbial Community Growth in Coastal Saline Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Yoshida, Hiroko & Gable, Joshua J. & Park, Jae K., 2012. "Evaluation of organic waste diversion alternatives for greenhouse gas reduction," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1-9.
    7. Elango, D. & Thinakaran, N. & Panneerselvam, P. & Sivanesan, S., 2009. "Thermophilic composting of municipal solid waste," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(5), pages 663-668, May.
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