Innovative Process and Operational Strategies for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Treatment

India faces significant challenges in municipal solid waste (MSW) management due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and the absence of sustainable waste treatment technologies. Dependence on traditional methods, such as landfilling and open dumping, has led to environmental degradation, public health concerns, and shortage of suitable land for waste disposal. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a lab-scale biodrying process as a treatment method for mixed municipal solid waste. A representative synthetic waste sample, reflecting the MSW composition typically found in Kerala, was processed under controlled biological activity within a reactor. Key findings include the identification of critical operational parameters such as weight reduction, moisture content, calorific value, gas emission, and temperature. The biodrying process resulted in substantial reductions in waste mass and moisture, along with a marked improvement in energy content, making the output suitable for use as refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Optimal microbial activity led to elevated internal temperatures, enhancing drying efficiency without generating leachate or odour. The findings demonstrated that the biodrying technology is a promising treatment strategy for sustainable MSW management, offering both environmental and energy recovery benefits in decentralized waste treatment systems.