Solid waste refers to discarded materials from human and animal activities, arising from industrial, residential, and commercial sources, and managed through various methods such as sanitary, municipal, construction and demolition, or industrial landfills. It can be categorized by material (plastic, paper, glass, metal, organic), by hazard potential (radioactive, flammable, infectious, toxic, non-toxic), or by origin (industrial, domestic, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition).

The Wastes & Biomass Management Journal publishes research on all aspects of solid and biomass waste, including generation, characterization, minimization, collection, separation, treatment, disposal, as well as policy, education, and environmental or economic assessments. Covered waste types include municipal (residential, institutional, commercial), agricultural, and special wastes (construction and demolition, household hazardous, sewage sludge, and non-hazardous industrial). The journal accepts both fundamental and applied research, including case studies with relevance beyond their specific context, while studies focusing mainly on converting waste into new products are generally more suitable for materials-focused journals.

The following are some of the major areas in which papers are solicited:

  • Waste Management
    • Waste generation and characterization
    • Waste minimization
    • Recycling and reuse
    • Storage, collection, transportation, and transfer
    • Treatment technologies: mechanical, biological, chemical, thermal, and others
    • Landfill disposal
    • Environmental impact assessment
  • Biomass and Bioenergy
    • Feedstock design and production
    • Biomass resources and availability
    • Biomass treatment and conversion
    • Energy conversion of biomass
    • Residue management
  • Cross-Cutting Themes
    • Industrial development and applications
    • Socio-economic evaluation of bioenergy systems
    • Life-cycle assessment of concepts and technologies
    • Legal frameworks, policies, and regulations
    • Economic analysis
    • Strategic planning, education, and training