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The escalating global waste crisis necessitates innovative and sustainable management strategies. Microalgae offer a compelling solution, capable of simultaneously treating diverse waste streams while producing valuable bio-based compounds. This comprehensive review systematically synthesizes recent advancements (2020–2025) in microalgae-mediated waste valorization, employing a rigorous methodology across major scientific databases. The literature reveals three primary application areas. Firstly, microalgae are extensively utilized for food waste valorization, transforming various forms of food waste (e.g., digestate, leachate, specific processing residues) into biofuels (biodiesel, biogas, methane), single-cell protein, biostimulants, and specialty chemicals, often integrated within biorefinery concepts. Secondly, they demonstrate high efficiency in treating industrial and agricultural wastewaters, effectively removing pollutants like nutrients and heavy metals from sources such as poultry, swine, and aquaculture effluents, concurrently recovering resources like biofertilizers and biomass. Thirdly, microalgae are explored in specific waste-to-energy/material applications, including co-pyrolysis with non-biological wastes (e.g., plastics, textiles) for enhanced energy recovery, and novel methods for critical element recovery and sustainable biomass harvesting. Despite significant progress, future research must focus on process intensification and full biorefinery integration to enhance scalability and economic viability. Developing robust microalgal strains, optimizing product yields, and advancing sustainable harvesting techniques are crucial. Furthermore, exploring novel valorization pathways for advanced materials and conducting comprehensive techno-economic and life cycle assessments are essential. This review underscores microalgae's transformative potential in fostering a circular economy, converting waste into valuable resources, and addressing pressing environmental challenges. • Microalgae enable sustainable waste treatment and resource recovery. • Review highlights advances in converting diverse wastes to bio-products. • Process intensification and biorefinery integration are future priorities. • Accelerating microalgae solutions crucial for circular bioeconomy.
Mehmet Melikoğlu (Thu,) studied this question.