Can Bug Poop and Compost Solve Our Plastic Problem?
I am a big fan of working with nature to solve our problems. Instead we typically make up a new chemical or process that creates problems later on. That’s why I am excited about a new study that may have found a new solution to our plastic waste problem using beetles and compost. Since we know that many commercial composters have to deal with contamination from plastics, this innovation could solve a global issue with plastic waste.
Their new plastic farming process include two key steps. The first step involves feeding mealworm larvae plastic to concentrate the plastic waste into their frass (aka poop). This poop then serves as compost. One problem is the compost is still full of microplastics, a big problem for our health and wildlife. That’s the issue these researchers were trying to solve.
The new step mixes the mealworm poop into compost we might already have in our yards like food waste. Soldier fly larva then consume the compost, producing a rich compost tea containing carbon and nitrogen. Researchers call this new product “frasschar.”
What i like about this is that soldier fly larva already love our home compost systems meaning that anyone can potentially test out this technology.
Now, most of us don’t have mealworms, but they are incredibly easy to grow, or to buy on your own from the pet store. You may already be familiar with adding worms to your compost and the use of worm castings to improve soil quality and the health of your garden. Gardeners could now easily trade out works for mealworms in this case.
Insects As Farmers
Entomocomposting, a process that utilizes insects to break down organic waste, is emerging as a sustainable and effective waste management solution. This approach offers several advantages over traditional composting methods.
The Role of Biochar
The incorporation of biochar, a charcoal-like substance produced from the pyrolysis of biomass, significantly enhances the entomocomposting process. Biochar improves substrate aeration and prevents clumping, creating a more favorable environment for insect activity. By increasing pH and cation exchange capacity, biochar enhances nutrient availability for both the insects and the microbial community involved in decomposition. Furthermore, biochar accelerates the breakdown of organic matter, stimulating microbial growth and enzymatic activity. This leads to the formation of humic substances, which improve soil fertility, and accelerates the release of available nitrogen.
Insect Species in Entomocomposting
Several insect species are well-suited for entomocomposting, each with its own dietary preferences:
Housefly (Musca domestica): Thrives on a diet of wheat bran, food waste, and manure.
House cricket (Acheta domesticus): Can effectively consume brewery waste, fruits, vegetables, and byproducts from the wine industry.
Bettles (like mealworms and superworms): Primarily feed on agricultural byproducts such as wheat bran and various types of plant biomass.
Insect-Mediated Plastic Degradation
Interestingly, certain coleopteran species, such as mealworms, have been observed to consume and partially degrade plastic materials. This ability, while not leading to complete biodegradation, highlights the potential for insects to play a role in addressing the growing plastic pollution problem.
Benefits of Insect Frass
The byproduct of entomocomposting, insect frass, is a valuable organic fertilizer. It is rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and has been shown to significantly enhance plant growth and health.
Improved Plant Growth: Insect frass provides essential nutrients, improves soil structure, and promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Studies have demonstrated increased plant biomass, flowering, and overall growth in plants cultivated in soils amended with insect frass.
Pest Control: Insect frass can also exhibit biocontrol properties. For example, frass from certain insect species has been shown to effectively control plant pests such as the cabbage root fly.
Entomocomposting, coupled with the beneficial effects of biochar and the valuable properties of insect frass, presents a promising avenue for sustainable waste management and agricultural enhancement. Further research is needed to optimize these processes and explore their full potential in addressing environmental challenges, including waste reduction and plastic pollution.
Implications for Waste Management
Traditional plastic waste management methods like landfilling, incineration, and recycling often prove inefficient and harmful to the environment and human health. Similarly, managing organic waste, particularly food waste, poses significant challenges. While composting and anaerobic digestion are viable options, they have limitations such as high costs, by-product disposal issues, and potential for greenhouse gas emissions.
Entomocomposting, utilizing insects like the black soldier fly, presents a promising alternative. This method offers several advantages, including substantial waste reduction, pathogen removal, faster processing times, and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional composting.
