Objective The incineration-based energy recovery of multi-source municipal organic solid waste is an important approach for energy conservation, pollution reduction, carbon emission mitigation, and the construction of zero-waste cities.

Method In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to investigate the mixed combustion characteristics of multi-source organic solid wastes (including papermaking sludge (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene (PE)) under different co-combustion schemes.

Result The results indicate that the single-component combustion characteristics of various organic solid wastes are significantly different from each other. Unlike papermaking sludge, high-calorific-value solid wastes such as PE and PET exhibit two independent DTG weight-loss peaks during the volatile combustion stage and the fixed carbon combustion stage, respectively. For co-combustion of different organic solid wastes, with the increase in the blending ratio of high-calorific-value organic solid wastes (e.g., PET and PE) into papermaking sludge, the combustibility index, comprehensive combustion index, and stable combustion characteristic index all show an upward trend, and the combustion performance is significantly optimized.

Conclusion For co-combustion of different organic solid wastes with coal, the high volatile component characteristics of organic solid wastes have a promoting effect on coal combustion. When blending 5% coal into the mixed fuel of papermaking sludge and high-calorific-value organic solid wastes, the combustibility index, comprehensive combustion index, and stable combustion characteristic index approached the maximum within this study, presenting excellent combustion performance. A synergistic effect exists during the co-combustion of multi-source organic solid wastes and coal, which is conducive to promoting the combustion of volatiles from both organic solid wastes and coal. This study can provide beneficial technical support for the resource and energy recovery of multi-source municipal organic solid waste.