ABSTRACT
Solid wastes are, by definition, any wastes other than liquids or gases that are no longer deemed valuable and therefore discarded, Such wastes are generated by the residential community, as well as commercial and light industrial communities. Recovery of energy from municipal solid waste (MSW) in its simplest form has existed for centuries. The burning, or incineration, of wastes such as wooden planks and miscellaneous household products was first used to produce warmth. Anaerobic digestion of solid wastes is a process very similar to that used at wastewater treatment facilities. Bacteria, in the absence of oxygen, are used to break down the organic matter of the waste. Frequently, the MSW is mixed with sewage sludge from the treatment plant to enhance the efficiency of the digestion. Besides the liquid fuel, or oil, pyrolysis generates a medium-Btu value gas stream that, after purification, can be recycled as a supplemental fuel within the plant.
