Advantages
- Generation of biogas and fertiliser (almost complete retention of the fertiliser nutrients (N, P and K)
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through methane recovery
- Combined treatment of different organic waste and wastewaters
- Reduction of solids to be handled (e.g. less excess sludge)
- Good pathogen removal depending on temperature
- Process stability (high-loads can be treated but anaerobic sludge can also be preserved for prolonged periods without any feeding)
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Disadvantages
- Small- and middle-scale anaerobic technology for the treatment of solid waste in middle- and low-income countries is still relatively new
- Experts are required for the design and construction, depending on scale may also for operation and maintenance
- Reuse of produced energy (e.g. transformation into, fire/light, heat and power) needs to be established
- High sensitivity of methanogenic bacteria to a large number of chemical compounds
- Sulphurous compounds can lead to odour
