Waste reutilization in pollution remediation: Paving new paths for wastewater treatment

Given the rising worldwide concern about environmental contamination, there has been a substantial focus on researching sustainable and ecologically friendly materials created from waste. Despite the efforts delving into potentials of recycling or upcycling various waste sources for diverse applications, the sustainable waste reuse and the potential contributions of these wastes in addressing contemporary environmental issues have not been comprehensively analysed and discussed. To close the knowledge gap, this review intends to offer a comprehensive analysis and perspective on the use of three major categories of wastes, namely polymers derived, biomass and non-agricultural waste as renewable sources for pollution remediation specifically in the context of wastewater treatment. Thorough analysis is critical for understanding the potential of waste materials to be reintroduced into profitable usage cycles to decrease the environmental burdens and resource exhaustion. This review covers the sources and properties of the waste materials, as well as the development and performance of the recycled or upcycled materials obtained from these wastes in various applications. The obstacles and future research direction in the field of pollution remediation with waste materials are also presented. The research findings emphasize the significance of sustainable waste recycling and highlight the potential of reuse important resources extracted from waste products derived from polymers, biomass and non-agricultural solid waste. Waste reutilization provides an environmentally beneficial and sustainable strategy to eliminating different contaminants from wastewater. This review is anticipated to provide insights into recyclable materials and their potential for contributing to a greener environment. This review intends to serve as a guiding resource for inspiring further advancements in environmental solutions tailored to wastewater treatment needs. [Display omitted] •Waste derived from polymer, biomass and non-agricultural solid and their reutilization strategies are discussed.•The innovation in waste materials synthesis, characterization and modifications are discussed.•The performances of recycling of waste materials in wastewater treatment are analysed.•The challenges and future direction in enhancing the efficiency of recycled waste material are presented.