Abstract

In early days, disposal of waste was not a problem because the number of
population was small and there were vast lands available to the population at the
time (3). The environment could easily absorb the volume of wastes produced
without any form of degradation (4). However as population increased more
wastes were generated which caused strain on the environment. Poor
management of wastes results in the pollution of the soil, air and surface and
underground water causing a major impact on public health (8).

In this proposal, we will describe how microbial communities can be a promising

approach for waste treatment and conversion.

By utilizing anaerobic digestion and composting of organic waste with a high

lignocellulosic portion, composting of heavy metal contaminated organic waste,
and composting at low temperature, microorganisms can be an answer for better
management of waste.
Leow CW, Fan YV, Chua LS, Muhamad II, Klemeš JJ and Lee CT. 2018. A review on application of
microorgarnisms for organic waste management. Chem. Eng

8. Singh J, Saxena R, Bharti V and Singh A. 2018. The Importance of Waste Management to
Environmental Sanitation: A Review. Adv. Biores. 9(2):202-207.

Amasuomo E and Baird J. 2016. The Concept of Waste and Waste Management. J. Manage. Sustain.
6(4):88-96.
Introduction

The world generates billions of tons of waste each year, which pose a significant environmental
burden. In the United States, for example, the average person generates about 4.4 pounds of
trash per day. Managing and treating this waste is crucial to avoid contaminate soil, water, and
air. Biotechnology offers one solution to addressing these problems through the use of
microbes. Naturally occurring microbial communities are present in almost all environments,
including natural and waste systems.

Waste is a major environmental problem. This waste is often disposed of in landfills, which can
contaminate groundwater and soil. Waste can also be incinerated, which releases pollutants
into the air.

Engineered microbial communities (EMCs) are a promising approach for waste treatment and
conversion. EMCs are composed of microorganisms that have been selected or engineered to
degrade specific pollutants or to produce valuable products from waste. EMCs can be used to
treat a variety of wastes, including wastewater, solid waste, and agricultural waste.

EMCs offer several advantages over traditional waste treatment methods. First, EMCs can be
more efficient at degrading pollutants. Second, EMCs can be used to treat a wider range of
pollutants than traditional methods. Third, EMCs can produce valuable products from waste,
such as biofuels and bioproducts.

Al Zuahiri F., Pirozzi D., Ausiello A., Florio C., Turco M., Zuccaro G., Micoli L., Toscano G., 2015, Biogas
production from solid state anaerobic digestion for municipal solid waste, Chemical Engineering
Transactions, 43, 2407-2412
Statement of the problem

The rapid growth of the human population has led to an increase in the
generation of waste. This waste, if not properly treated, can have a negative
impact on the environment. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to
remove pollutants from wastewater, but they can be expensive to operate and
maintain. Organic waste, such as food waste and agricultural waste, can be
converted into biogas, but this process can be energy-intensive.

Hence, this proposal aims to answer this problem by introducing microbial

communities for low-cost methods for waste treatment and conversion. By
selecting microbial strains that perform their functions optimally and ensuring the
stability of the community over time, these microbial consortia can effectively
treat a wide range of waste streams. They could become a vital tool in sustainable
waste-to-resource management strategies, contributing also to a circular
economy.

Engineered microbial communities (EMCs) can be used to treat and convert waste
into useful products. EMCs are made up of a variety of microbes that have been
selected for their ability to degrade specific pollutants or convert organic waste
into biogas. EMCs can be used to treat a variety of wastewaters, including
municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, and agricultural wastewater. They
can also be used to convert a variety of organic wastes, including food waste,
agricultural waste, and sewage sludge.

Al Zuahiri F., Pirozzi D., Ausiello A., Florio C., Turco M., Zuccaro G., Micoli L., Toscano G., 2015, Biogas
production from solid state anaerobic digestion for municipal solid waste, Chemical Engineering
Transactions, 43, 2407-2412
Objectives

The objectives of this research proposal is to develop a cost-effective and

sustainable method for using EMCs for waste treatment and conversion. In
addition to that to evaluate EMCs for the treatment of wastewater and the
conversion of organic waste into biogas. Determine the optimal conditions for the
growth and activity of EMCs.