Critical factors and risks affecting municipal solid waste management strategies and waste-to-energy generation

Many of the developing countries cannot achieve effective waste management (WM) as there are critical factors blocking the success in this area, which may vary depending on the development level of countries. This chapter contains facts and justifications for the need to solve the problematic issue, the detailed analysis of full-text studies to systematize the necessary information on the WM status in developing countries; on the energy needs of society and the efficiency of the conversion of waste into energy; on initiatives for progressive thermal waste treatment. Disclosure of the risks of implementing innovative projects for WM on the example of Ukraine was provided through personal consultations, questionnaires, and interviews of expert practitioners in the field of technology and engineering, construction and operation of waste processing plants and equipment, specialists in the field of environmental safety and production risks, specialists on the implementation of innovative projects in Ukraine, scientists, and from personal experience.