ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Reducing the Space Footprint of Black Soldier Fly
Larvae Waste Treatment by Increasing Waste
Feeding Layer Thickness
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1
Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Kachery Road, Lahore, Pakistan
2
The Urban Unit, 503, Shaheen Complex, Edgerton Road, Lahore
3
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Zurich, Switzerland
Submission date: 2020-03-17
Final revision date: 2020-05-17
Acceptance date: 2020-05-19
Online publication date: 2020-09-18
Publication date: 2020-11-10
Corresponding author
Saleha Mahmood
Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC), Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):771-779
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ABSTRACT
Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) waste treatment process is a promising
solution for reclaiming organic waste which is up to 50% of municipal waste produced in the developing
countries. BSFL operational guidelines issued by EAWAG Switzerland recommend 5-10 cm thick
waste layers for the treatment process requiring large space especially for treating huge quantities of
waste. This study explored performance of BSFL waste treatment process for waste feeding layers
with thickness between 10-100 cm on a pilot scale in Pakistan. The key parameters analyzed were,
waste layer thickness and 50% thickness reduction with time, dry matter waste weight reduction and
volume reduction which indicated degree of waste treatment. Furthermore, larval weight gain, bio
conversion rate (BCR), residue and metabolism were also calculated. Waste layer thickness reduction
varied between 68.9 (SD 0.75)-96.7 % (SD 0.65), waste dry weight reduction 45.2 (SD 5.20)-96.5%
(SD 0.20) and volume reduction was found to be between 64.0 (SD 3.46) and 87.9% (SD 2.61) for layers
with thickness of 10-100cm. Final larval weight and bioconversion rate ranged between 0.031-0.047 g
and 6.01% and 9.94% respectively in different layers. Metabolized waste was more than the residue in
all samples except the one with 90cm waste layer thickness. This study confirmed that space foot print
of BSFL treatment process can be decreased using waste layers with higher thickness than the widely
practiced 10 cm thickness.