Waste and Recycling
A section of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Section Information
Sustainable waste management and the recovery of materials from waste (recycling) are one of the pillars of the circular economy, but at the same time many waste management process and technologies can still be considered to be in their infancy; in many countries waste management is still mainly based on its disposal into uncontrolled landfills and open dumps.
There is, therefore, a large need for research in this field to consolidate the acquired knowledge and find new processes as well as technologies that allow for:
- A more technically efficient, environmentally sustainable and economically feasible recovery of resources from waste whenever possible;
- Safe and sustainable disposal of waste that cannot be used further.
This Section accepts research papers that present new concepts and laboratory experiments; however, the presentation of field data based on specific case studies of general interest is also particularly welcome. Therefore, the Section aims to be a forum for both researchers and practitioners in the broad field of waste and recycling.
Review papers are also welcome, but it is suggested that potential authors contact the Section Editor-in-Chief when they have a tentative title and a brief outline of the paper in order to verify that the proposed review fits within the Section’s scope.
It is, however, essential that research papers, field studies and reviews consolidate or increase the knowledge in this specific field, and that all the information presented is critically discussed in light of the existing literature.
The major areas of interest of this Section are:
- Minimization of waste at source;
- Waste production and characterization;
- Reuse of waste;
- Treatments aiming at the recovery of materials from waste (e.g., secondary raw materials, compost, digestate);
- Recovery of energy from waste;
- Landfilling.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Sustainable Waste Management and Recycling for Achieving a Circular Economy: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Sustainable Waste Process Engineering and Biomass Valorization (Deadline: 1 May 2026)
- Sustainable Photovoltaic Waste Recycling: Materials, Technology and Circular Economy (Deadline: 8 May 2026)
- Sustainable Waste Management: Recycling for a Green Environment (Deadline: 10 May 2026)
- Circular Economy Strategies for Waste Management: Innovations in Resource Recovery and Sustainability (Deadline: 15 May 2026)
- Advancing Sustainable Development: Innovations in Solid Waste and Wastewater Treatment for Environmental Protection (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Sustainable Waste Management in the Context of Circular Economy: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 20 June 2026)
- Advances in Research on Sustainable Waste Treatment and Technology (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Sustainable Methods for Resource Recovery and Circular Waste Management (Deadline: 11 July 2026)
- Sustainable Resource Utilization and Management of Electronic Waste: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions (Deadline: 15 July 2026)
- Circular Water Management in Sustainable Cities: Valorization of Municipal By-Products and Industrial Wastewater (Deadline: 18 July 2026)
- Advances in Electronic Waste Management and Sustainability (Deadline: 20 July 2026)
- Towards Sustainable Waste Systems: Advancing Solutions for Circular Economy, Resource Recovery, and Environmental Protection (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Integrated Treatment Strategies for Solid Wastes (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Transforming End-of-Life Product Management: Leveraging Big Data, Deep Learning, and Sustainable Practices (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Sustainable Solutions for Wastewater Treatment and Recycling (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Sustainability Assessment and Decision Support for Circular Waste and Resource Systems (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Biological Treatment for Sustainable Waste Management and Green Environment (Deadline: 14 August 2026)
- Green Microbiology: Advancing Sustainability Through Microbial Innovations—2nd Edition (Deadline: 27 August 2026)
- Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: Challenges, Innovations, and Resource Recovery (Deadline: 2 September 2026)
- Sustainable Waste Utilisation and Biomass Energy Production (Deadline: 10 September 2026)
- Sustainable Industries and Circular Economy (Deadline: 22 September 2026)
- Advancing Circular Practices and Resource Recovery in Waste Management Systems (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Sustaining the Waste-Energy Nexus: Thermal and Biochemical Pathways for Bioenergy and Waste-to-Product Valorization in Municipal and Industrial Streams (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Water Quality and Sustainable Wastewater Treatment (Deadline: 15 October 2026)
- Sustainable Utilization of Agro-Wastes & Pollution Reduction and Control (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Treatment of Bottom Ash Deriving from Waste Incineration (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Waste Valorization, Sustainable Innovation and Circular Economy (Deadline: 10 November 2026)
- Waste-to-Energy Technologies for Sustainable Resource Utilization (Deadline: 17 November 2026)
- Rethinking Waste: Life Cycle Thinking Approaches Towards a Circular and Regenerative Future (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Sustainable Green Technology for Sustainable Waste Management in Terms of Municipal Solid Waste from Recycle to Reuse Residual (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Utilization of Organic Solid Waste for Materials and Energy Sustainability (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- From Disposal to Resource: Technological Innovations for Closing the Loop on Solid Waste (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Waste and Resource Management, and Sustainability (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Sustainable Waste Management Strategies for Circular Economy (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Waste Management and Recycling Innovations for Environmental Sustainability (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- The Water–Energy–Waste Nexus for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Biomass and Solid Wastes to Renewable Fuel, Value-Added Chemicals, and Functional Materials (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Sustainable Materials Management in the Circular Economy: Metrics, Evidence, and Results (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Advancing Awareness in Sustainability and Integrated Waste Management (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Sustainable Organic Waste Transformation and Resource Recovery in the Circular Economy (Deadline: 10 March 2027)
- Waste Management and Reuse Applications of Sustainable Materials (Deadline: 25 March 2027)
- Sustainable Materials for Environmental Remediation: Innovations and Applications (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Recyclability of Barrier-Coated Paper-Based Packaging: Challenges and Industrial Perspectives Toward Sustainability (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Sustainable Waste Management and Recovery: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- From Trash to Treasure: Emerging Technologies and Innovations in the Circular Economy (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Advances in Waste-Derived Materials for Environmental Sustainability (Deadline: 10 April 2027)
- Innovative Technology for Waste Recycling: Carbon Footprint Analysis and Resource Efficiency (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Recent Advances in Soil Remediation, Sustainable Management, and Soil Health (Deadline: 21 September 2027)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions: