Abstract: Through the statistical analysis of papers and patents, the progress of research and the evolving trend of technological innovation capacity in China and other countries’ solid waste treatment were summarized. Over the past two decades, China’s research on solid waste treatment has achieved a leap-forward development, with remarkable breakthroughs from basic research to technology application. In terms of research papers, China has gradually become the dominant force in the world after following the initial phase, with the number and quality of papers rapidly improving, and the international cooperation network expanding, especially the academic cooperation with the United States, Australia and other countries. However, the proportion of highly cited papers has fluctuated in recent years, and the quality of research needs to be strengthened. In the field of technological patents, the number of patent applications in China has grown explosively, far exceeding other countries. Although China has an advantage in the number of patents, the proportion of high-value patents is still lower than that of the United States and Japan. The overall conversion rate of patents is low, and a large number technological achievements have not yet been industrialized and applied, which highlights the lack of industry-academia-research collaboration and market-oriented promotion. The international competitive pattern shows trend of “East rising, West falling”, and China has gradually replaced the traditional technological dominance of the United States, Japan, and Europe. Through policy-driven, scientific research investment and industry synergy, China has formed an innovative closed loop. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the connection between basic research and engineering transformation, improve the quality and conversion efficiency of patents, and deepen international technology collaboration， in order to consolidate the leading position in the global solid waste treatment field, and furthermore, support the construction of “zero-waste city” and the goal of circular economy.

Key words: solid waste treatment, literature analysis, patents analysis, technical competitiveness