Benchmarking of sustainable waste management models

Abstract

The paper examines the potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) recycling in sustainable and economically viable organic waste treatment. Recent studies demonstrate effective biowaste conversion and nutrient recycling abilities of BSFL. However, comparisons with other waste treatment methods require further investigation in terms of quantification of environmental and economic efficiency parameters. The aim of this study is to analyze the performance and viability of the BSFL model against alternative organic waste processing approaches. The research employs a case study methodology using operating data from a commercialscale BSFL recycling facility in Central Europe specializing in food industry residuals. The results show a 22% higher bioconversion rate compared to regular composting translated into 170 kg of product output per ton of organic substrate. BSFL processing leads to lowered greenhouse gas emissions from waste treatment by an average of 35% owing to significant biogenic carbon sequestration. The reduced environmental impacts coupled with marketable BSFL-derived products create the prospects for sustainable waste management. The study concludes that incentivizing businesses in the waste management sector to integrate BSFL-centered approaches leads to achieving dual economic and environmental sustainability goals. The paper contributes to knowledge on the viability of insect-based waste recycling. Further research needs include lifecycle assessments of the BSFL value chain and evaluating scaling potential.