CHEMICAL-PROPERTIES OF MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE COMPOSTS

Composting municipal solid waste (MSW) is becoming increasingly recognized as a viable and economical method for waste management in both Europe and the USA. Composting has advantages over land-filling and incineration because of lower operational costs, less environmental pollution, and beneficial use of the end product. There are, however, some uncertanties about potential health hazards resulting from excessive MSW compost application to agricultural lands. This article reviews currently available literature on chemical properties of MSW compost and the effects or compost application on soils. It is concluded that the positive effects resulting from compost application far outweigh the negative effects, but more research is needed on a wide range of MSW composts with more precise determination of the fate of MSW compost-applied trace elements in the environment.