bioremediation of contaminated solid wastes. Factors and mechanisms affecting the
co-composting process are discussed, and a review of the co-composting applications for different contaminant groups is also provided.
Keywords Composting practices · POPs · Bioremediation
23.1 Introduction
Composting is a bioprocess by means of which organic residues of different typology and origin are transformed into stable, humus-rich soil fertilizers. This technology has become a robust and reliable management option for biowastes deriving
from either municipal, agricultural, or industrial areas. For the purpose of this
chapter, however, the emphasis will be put on the use of composting for the
bioremediation of soil (and other matrices) contaminated by recalcitrant organic
pollutants.
Prior to dealing with these topics, it is deemed necessary to introduce the issue of
wastes generation and management. This is important because both bioresidues,
which are feedstock for producing soil fertilizers, and polluted matrices, which
generally arise from the contaminated sites and are therefore considered hazardous
refuses, are wastes that modern societies must deal with.
The types of wastes that are considered central to this chapter are:
(i) organic residues (often termed biowaste) from either municipal, agricultural, or
industrial sources including food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers, retailers, garden and park waste, and comparable industrial
organic residues from food processing plants.
(ii) hazardous wastes, chiefly soil and other solid matrices from (industrial) sites
contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, but also sludge and sludge
biosolids from wastewater treatment.
23.1.1 Background on Waste Streams and Management:
Biowaste and Hazardous Waste
Waste production has always accompanied human activities. In the antique period, the
density of population and the exploitation of natural resources was low enough to pose
either minimal or no risk at all to both humans and the environment. The steady and
progressive demographic growth experienced in the last centuries along with the
formation of large conurbations and the increasing rate of industrialization have
compelled communities to significantly improve their wastes management strategies.
At present, developed countries are making the effort to transform their economic
and environmental policies into more sustainable ones. To fulfill this aim, the
468
O. Lhotský et al.
co-composting process are discussed, and a review of the co-composting applications for different contaminant groups is also provided.
Keywords Composting practices · POPs · Bioremediation
23.1 Introduction
Composting is a bioprocess by means of which organic residues of different typology and origin are transformed into stable, humus-rich soil fertilizers. This technology has become a robust and reliable management option for biowastes deriving
from either municipal, agricultural, or industrial areas. For the purpose of this
chapter, however, the emphasis will be put on the use of composting for the
bioremediation of soil (and other matrices) contaminated by recalcitrant organic
pollutants.
Prior to dealing with these topics, it is deemed necessary to introduce the issue of
wastes generation and management. This is important because both bioresidues,
which are feedstock for producing soil fertilizers, and polluted matrices, which
generally arise from the contaminated sites and are therefore considered hazardous
refuses, are wastes that modern societies must deal with.
The types of wastes that are considered central to this chapter are:
(i) organic residues (often termed biowaste) from either municipal, agricultural, or
industrial sources including food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers, retailers, garden and park waste, and comparable industrial
organic residues from food processing plants.
(ii) hazardous wastes, chiefly soil and other solid matrices from (industrial) sites
contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, but also sludge and sludge
biosolids from wastewater treatment.
23.1.1 Background on Waste Streams and Management:
Biowaste and Hazardous Waste
Waste production has always accompanied human activities. In the antique period, the
density of population and the exploitation of natural resources was low enough to pose
either minimal or no risk at all to both humans and the environment. The steady and
progressive demographic growth experienced in the last centuries along with the
formation of large conurbations and the increasing rate of industrialization have
compelled communities to significantly improve their wastes management strategies.
At present, developed countries are making the effort to transform their economic
and environmental policies into more sustainable ones. To fulfill this aim, the
468
O. Lhotský et al.