THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPOST FROM ORGANIC SOLID WASTE: TECHNICAL STRATEGIES AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

The organic solid waste of municipal origin stands as one of the main fractions continuously produced over time in great quantities: in 2017 in Europe it was estimated to account for the 34% of the municipal solid waste. Due to its bio - chemical and physical characteristics, organic solid waste is handled via biological processes, pursuing the recovery of energy and/or materials. At European level, most of the industrial plants treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) end up with the production of compost that can be used in accordance with its soil amendment properties. The actual use of compost represents the main condition for the biological recovery process to be sustainable and, in this regard, the assurance of its quality plays a key role. This work aims at discussing the state of the art about the strategies adopted in Europe for the production of a high-quality, safe material. The main issues affecting compost quality, such as the presence of contaminants, the biological stability and maturity, are briefly reviewed and research experiences are critically presented to highlight the current technical needs and possible scientific perspectives to promote the sustainability of composting in the light of the circular economy principles.