AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE RECOVERY FROM MUNICIPAL BIOWASTE AND WASTEWATER STREAMS FOR SOIL HEALTH, WATER REUSE, AND RESILIENT FOOD PRODUCTION

Abstract

Municipal biowaste and wastewater contain recoverable water, organic matter, carbon, nutrients, and energy that can support agriculture while reducing disposal pressures. This review examines the pathways through which these streams can improve soil health, enable water reuse, and strengthen resilient food production. Literature published between 2016 and 2025 was identified through major scientific databases and synthesized thematically across recovery technologies, agronomic effects, environmental risks, economic feasibility, and governance. Composting, vermicomposting, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, nutrient precipitation, ammonia capture, and advanced wastewater treatment produce compost, digestate, biosolids, biochar, hydrochar, struvite, concentrated nitrogen products, reclaimed water, and energy. These resources can increase soil organic matter, nutrient availability, aggregation, microbial activity, and water-holding capacity while reducing dependence on freshwater and synthetic fertilizers. Reclaimed wastewater may stabilize irrigation supplies during drought, and recovered nutrients can support urban, peri-urban, and resource constrained farming. Benefits are conditional on feedstock quality, treatment performance, local soil and crop requirements, and appropriate application rates. Pathogens, salinity, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, antimicrobial-resistance determinants, nutrient losses, and greenhouse gas emissions remain important concerns. Safe implementation requires source segregation, effective treatment, product certification, traceability, long-term monitoring, and harmonized regulation. Integrated life-cycle, economic, and region specific assessments are needed to select recovery pathways that balance agricultural value, public health, environmental protection, and market viability.