The autothermal nature of high intensity and rate thermophilic biotreatment processes is
the key to economic process performance, but even the maximum process temperatures
that can be attained do not achieve sterilisation, the absolute requirement for pathogen
elimination. Hence, in any such process, a degree of risk with respect to possible pathogen
survival is always involved, and the acceptability of such risk must ultimately govern
validation of particular treatment technologies and systems. Any realistic evaluation of the
effectiveness of biotreatment for pathogen elimination must ultimately conclude that
seriously pathogen infected solid waste streams are unsuitable for treatment by any
currently available biotreatment technology, leaving incineration as the obvious alternative
technology for the treatment of such pathogen-infected wastes.