Changes in legislation controlling the management of organic matter contained in
municipal solid waste (MSW), control of air and odor emissions from solid waste processing
facilities, protection of groundwater and soil resources, and other factors have led to the
accelerated development and installation of a variety of systems aimed at processing a variety of
organic materials for the production of methane. This paper provides an overview of the
development of anaerobic digestion processes applied to the treatment of the organic fraction of
MSW, including food wastes and some animal manures. In addition, the authors discuss
examples of systems and technologies that are being used to recover energy and to stabilize
organic materials.
