Municipal solid wastes in the South-Eastern Mediterranean region: Quality, quantity and management

The paper reports an analysis of the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and composition in various Mediterranean countries comparing a high income level country (Italy) with emerging countries of the Southern East Mediterranean Area. The disposal systems of MSW are very different in each examined country of Mediterranean area and from Italy, where the separate collection (SC) has shown a positive trend in the last years. Based on consolidated Italian experience, compost represents an optimal treatment/disposal system to be implemented widely in other Mediterranean emerging countries where the organic fraction is the highest fraction. Waste to energy(W-to-E) options have been analyzed and greenhouse gas limit emissions should be fixed as a standard in every Mediterranean country.