Kimeandikwa na
Mchapishaji Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec)
Urban solid waste management is considered one of the most immediate and serious environ-
mental problems confronting urban governments in low- and middle-income countries. The sever-
ity of this challenge will increase in the future given the trends of rapid urbanisation and growth
in urban population. Due to growing public pressure and environmental concerns, waste experts
worldwide are being called upon to develop more sustainable methods of dealing with municipal
waste that embrace the concept of a circular economy.
Recycling organic waste material (biowaste) is still fairly limited, especially in low- and middle-in-
come settings, although this is by far the largest fraction of all generated municipal waste. This
book deals with urban organic municipal waste from households, commercial activities, and insti-
tutions. It describes the conversion of biowaste by insect larvae, using the example of the Black
Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, an approach that has obtained much attention in the past
decade. The feeding activity of the larvae drastically reduces the amount of waste while the har-
vested larvae can be used as valuable raw materials in the animal feed industry. This technology
has received attention in recent years due to the business opportunities it offers, which simultane-
ously address several challenges of modern society: hygiene issues arising from the lack of waste
management, unemployment in urban areas, and an increased demand for sustainable feed for
the ever-growing aquaculture and aviculture sector. Enterprises and small entrepreneurs are al-
ready investing significant amounts of money and time into this technology and are interested in
keeping a competitive edge on the practical aspects of operating such a facility in a cost-effective
way. Although academic publications on BSF are on the increase, the business interest and per-
ceived need to maintain a competitive edge has hindered open exchange about and discussion
of the practical day-to-day working steps required to operate such a facility. Filling this gap is the
main objective of this publication.
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