Production of fuels and chemicals from waste by microbiomes

•Stable microbiomes sustainably produce chemicals and fuels from organic waste.•Historically successful approach: classic anaerobic digestion to methane.•Novel approaches: carboxylate platform, bioplastics and microbial electrosynthesis.•Feedstocks include organic waste/wastewater and/or CO2.•Benefits: reduce waste, mitigate climate change and generate valuable products. The demand for chemicals and fuels will continue to grow simultaneously with the costly requirement to treat solid waste, wastewater, and regarding climate change, carbon dioxide. A dual benefit is at hand if waste could be converted to valuable chemicals. The application of stable chemical producing microbiomes adapted to these waste streams may turn this challenge into an opportunity.