Abstract: The plasma technology develops rapidly and has become a new research hotspot in recent years, with a wide range of applications. It has been applied to the urban solid waste treatment, but the full and unified application system has not yet been formed. We first briefly introduced the plasma technology and its classification. Then, we summarized its application to the harmlessness and resource utilization of urban solid waste (including plasma technology assisted biomass hydrogen production, catalytic CO₂ fuel generation, recycling metals in waste, surface modification of materials, recycling of radioactive waste and waste rubber, tires, glass, fibers, plastics, etc.), which was compared with traditional urban solid waste treatment methods. We analyzed their outcomes, aiming to provide the reference for the further improvement of this technology. Finally, the future research focus and the problems needed to face in the future (high cost, high energy consumption, difficult to large-scale application, etc.) are briefly discussed. In conclusion, in order to solve the increasingly serious problems of urban solid waste pollution, the plasma technology is applied to urban solid waste treatment and disposal, from the perspective of urban solid waste harmlessness and resources reuse, which can alleviate or even solve the current situation of urban solid waste pollution and achieve the goal of resources recycling.

Key words: plasma technology, waste treatment, harmlessness, recycling utilization