In the United States alone, Americans generate about 254 million tons of trash with only a 34.3 percent recycling rate. On average, each individual generates about 4.40 pounds of waste, per day! That is a lot of waste, and it is no wonder there is a “trash island.” We are always looking for new ways to dispose of our trash, from condensing and containing the trash to converting portions into biofuel. A new approach has the larval form of the black soldier fly feed on the waste itself.
EnviroFlight is attempting to utilize the black solider fly in its larval state to combat the waste issue that keeps piling up. The maggots essentially feed on leftovers in the trash and then their waste becomes food for prawns. By doing this, the element of composting is taken out of the equation, which on a large scale, is a good thing. Composting can be fine and harmless, in small quantities. However, large amounts of composting materials can lead to greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn can have a very negative effect on the environment.
While the process is certainly not appetizing, the use of maggots to decompose materials, especially food and waste, can eliminate a large portion of what contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, while also combating the overwhelming amount of waste in the world.