ABSTRACT
Today society faces numerous challenges concerning the transitions toward sustainability. Technical development has resulted in increased energy consumption, overuse of nonrenewable resources, waste, and a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. The increased carbon dioxide emissions with collateral global warming and the future shortage of fossil resources require many fronts of research to alleviate their consequences. Even though strategies for management of solid wastes have been ongoing for several years, the amount of nondegradable substances is rising steadily, while landfill space is being depleted. These problems, coupled to the urgency for better and integrated utilization of agricultural and forest resources, demand prompt and efficient actions both from society as well as research and development organizations.
