ABSTRACT
Biodegradable waste (bio-waste) is the major part of municipal solid waste (MSW) stream and in the EU constitutes mostly between 30% and 40% of MSW, ranging from 18% to 60%. It comprises green waste (park and garden waste from public estates and households), food and kitchen waste from households and restaurants and waste from the food industry (ComEC 2008). Municipal waste generated in the EU 27 countries in 2007 accounted for 259.4 Mt and ranged from 309 kg to 801 kg per capita (mean value 522 kg per capita) (Eurostat 2009). The total annual generation of bio-waste in the EU is estimated at 76.5-102 Mt green and food waste of a water content 50-60% wt., and up to 37 Mt from the food industry, of a higher water content (up to 80% wt.). The overall potential for separately collected bio-waste for the EU 27 is estimated at 80 Mt that is up to 150 kg/inhabitant/year (ComEC 2008). This accounts for about 30% of current total municipal waste generation per capita. At 350-400 kg of compost production from every tone of bio-waste, the overall potential of compost production accounts for 35-40 Mt. Currently, 24 Mt of bio-waste, i.e. about 30% of the total, is collected separately and composted, which in 2005 resulted in 13.2 Mt of compost. Of this amount, 5.7 Mt (43%) was produced from green waste, 4.8 Mt from bio-waste (36%), 1.4 Mt (10.5%) from mixed waste and 1.4 Mt (10.5%) from sewage sludge. This compost is used mostly in agriculture (about 50%), for landscaping (up to 20%) and for producing blends and manufactured soil (around 20%) (ComEC 2008).
