Powdered Bioactivators for the Control of Odorous Emissions Produced by the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) Collected in Surface Street Containers

Abstract

Population growth is closely linked to the increase in the number of citizens who consume resources and thus to the production of municipal solid waste (MSW). Integrated waste management is a key element for sustainable urban development and environmental protection. Reduction, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery are fundamental actions to implement the principles of community management strategy and circular economy, reducing the quantity of waste to be disposed of in landfills and the consequent impacts on the environment. For this purpose, the separate collection phase represents the most important action. Odour emissions from MSW management are among the main negative pressures perceived by the population. Odour emissions originate mainly from the decomposition of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), which occurs during the collection, transport, and treatment phases of the waste, and are the cause of many complaints. Therefore, the control of odour emissions in the treatment of municipal waste represents a key action in all the management phases and for all involved actors, which must be carried out to preserve air quality, health, and well-being of the population. The research presents and discusses the development and evaluation of advanced powdered bioactivators aimed at reducing the odorous emissions produced by the separate collection of OFMSW in surface street containers. The bioactivators used consist of a mixture of spores, microorganisms, enzymes, and nutrients. An extensive experimental plan and program have been carried out. Different bioactivators have been studied and analyzed. The concentration of odours emitted at different investigated times were carried out according to UNI EN 13725:2022. The bioactivators investigated showed different behaviors on the odours, including “masking” and abatement, depending on their composition and over time. The research aims to be a useful study for operators in the waste management sector to avoid odour impacts and as a basis for the development of technologies and methods for managing odorous emissions.