“…The annual production of municipal excess sludge (ES) in China is 39 million tons (80% water content) [6]. Due to the use of antibiotics, harmful substances, such as heavy metals, resistance genes, and pathogens, can also accumulate in ES [7]. Therefore, improper handling of ES will cause harmful gases, resistance genes, heavy metals, and other pollutants to return to the environment and may spread pathogens [8].…”