Environmental impact of food waste bioconversion by insects: Application of Life Cycle Assessment to process using Hermetia illucens

BSFL can eliminate more than 50% of total organic waste in a short period (two weeks) under ideal conditions.

“They can eliminate more than 50% of total organic waste in a short period (two weeks) under ideal conditions [12,13].”

BSFL treatment of 30 tonnes of food waste per day generated 33.3% (9990 kg/day) BSFL frass and 7.7% (2310 kg/day) BSFL.

“Salomone et al. [13] reported that BSFL treatment of 30 tonnes of food waste per day generated 33.3% (9990 kg/day) BSFL frass and 7.7% (2310 kg/day) BSFL.”

Salomone et al. measured concentrations of toxic and essential metals in BSFL frass fed with food waste substrates and found that the concentration was below the limits stated in the Italian regulation for fertiliser.

“Salomone et al. [13] has also measured the concentrations of toxic and essential metals in the BSFL frass fed with food waste substrates and found that the concentration of toxic and essential metals was below the limits stated in the Italian regulation for fertiliser.”

Studies on the quality of BSFL frass as organic fertiliser revealed a significant increase in NPK concentrations and a considerable reduction in heavy metals to acceptable regulatory levels.

“Studies on the quality of BSFL frass as organic fertiliser revealed a significant increase in NPK concentrations and a considerable reduction in heavy metals to the acceptable levels set by the regulatory authorities [13,20,25,30].”

BSFL frass has shown similar performance as organic fertiliser across different substrates.

“BSFL frass has shown similar results in performing as organic fertiliser, even by feeding BSFL to different type of substrates: organic municipal solid waste [30]; food waste [3,13,20]; manure [3,21]; brewery spent grains [38]; mixture of poultry, brewery waste, and green market waste [17]; mixture of pig manure, dog food, and human faeces [55]; and fermented maize straw [25].”