Chapter 1 - An introduction to cost-effective technologies for solid waste and wastewater treatment

Abstract

The burgeoning world population and the booming economy have made irreversible adverse impacts on our environment. Large-scale generation of solid waste and wastewater from domestic and industrial sectors is becoming anathema to achieving the goals of sustainability by nations around the globe. Traditional waste management approaches that are still prevalent in periphery countries lack treatment efficiency and removal mechanisms to deal with emerging contaminants. Optimistically, recent technological advancements in the waste management sectors have fostered the development of a range of cost-effective technologies for solid waste and wastewater treatment, which not only assures economic feasibility but also provides eco-friendly solutions to existing problems caused by massive waste generation. While methods like recycling, refuse-derived fuel production, and bio-conversion are gaining popularity within solid waste management sector, the wastewater treatment sector is leaning toward membrane-based treatment techniques. Further, these newly developing techniques are affordable even to periphery countries to implement on a large scale, and hence, it could significantly reduce global waste production.