Sustainable and Economic Waste Management and Resource Recovery Techniques

This book summarizes recent research findings directly related to sustainable and economic waste management and resource recovery techniques. The editors and contributors, all of whom are opinion leaders in the field, review and analyze the current landscape and present solutions to a formidable set of challenges: minimizing the amount of waste materials and environmental contaminants, recovering valuable resources from waste, and disposing of waste by means of sustainable and economic remediation techniques.

The contributors also discuss how mining and mineral processing waste products represent one of the world’s greatest chronic waste concerns. They put forward plans for waste reuse, and demonstrate how, given the limited nature of global mineral resources, the recycling and reuse of mining waste materials are vital. In addition, they explain how properly evaluated mining waste can be reused to re-extract minerals, provide fuel for power plants, and supply other valuable materials. Additional themes include research advances that have led to more efficient resource recovery processes, and to economic and sustainable techniques for recovering products from mining waste.

Similar to mining waste, the reuse and recycling of municipal, urban, domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes and waste water is also explored. The contributors explain how this waste is essential for the production and recovery of energy, biogas, fertilizers, organic materials, and nutrients (N, P) – and how this type of waste recovery is also critical to environmental safety.

The book offers a valuable guide for all individuals who are interested in the development of sustainable recovery processes, reuse of waste, sustainable waste management, and environmental hazard mitigation.