From waste to resource: Engineering advancements for municipal solid waste fine fraction utilization – A review

Abstract

Landfilling which used to be the most viable option to get rid of our waste is now less favoured due to a shift towards sustainable alternatives. Poor waste management and increasing waste generation have become environmental and health hazards. We not only have to deal with the current waste generation but also with the waste that piled up in the landfills for decades. One of the most effective ways to deal with it could be extracting the waste from the landfills and recirculating the material and land cost in the economy, through enhanced landfill mining techniques. The most abundantly excavated material from landfills is the municipal solid waste (MSW) fine fractions which consist of more than 50% of the waste composition. These fine fractions also called ‘MSW fines/soil-like material’ have the potential to be used as a bulk replacement for construction/geomaterials. The past literature shows an extensive study on MSW, regarding its characterization, management, environmental concerns, economic feasibility, treatments, field studies, etc. There are very limited studies related to the fine fraction of MSW, that is, mostly chemical, geotechnical, treatments, etc., but a few have shown the recycling potential of the material through the engineering application. This review highlights their potential as substitutes for traditional construction materials, such as soil, after undergoing appropriate treatments. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of MSW fine fraction research and suggests pathways for future studies on their sustainable application in engineering fields.