ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE IN TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

Abstract

The study intended to find the potential of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae as a sustainable solution for managing municipal solid waste (MSW) in Uganda, a country grappling with significant waste management challenges. Kampala generates an alarming 2,000 to 2,500 tons of waste daily, yet only a fraction is effectively collected and processed, rendering traditional disposal methods inadequate. The research primarily focused on analyzing the composition of MSW, assessing the weight reduction over a nine-day composting period, and examining the influence of moisture and temperature on waste processing efficiency. The study's methodology combined both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Waste was collected from Nakawa Market, sorted into organic, inorganic, and recyclable components, and processed into uniform 1-2 cm particles. Simultaneously, BSF larvae were reared and monitored, with experiments conducted using five-day-old larvae. The findings revealed that the waste largely consisted of jackfruit and onion residues, which exhibited a moisture content of 79% and a pH of 6.7. A preliminary fermentation process resulted in 275 kg of material at a measured temperature of 24.95°C. Over the nine-day trial, weight reduction was consistently monitored across 22 samples (12.5 kg each), following the addition of 0.003 kg of BSF larvae. The experiment resulted in an average weight decline from 12.5 kg to 9.7 kg, demonstrating statistically significant differences through ANOVA analysis (p < 0.05). Notably, temperature variations were significant throughout the study, with an initial decrease followed by a peak of 37.5°C for one sample, highlighting the dynamic nature of microbial activity. A notable strong negative correlation (r = -0.967) was identified, suggesting that as waste weight diminished, temperature elevated. The relationship between moisture content and waste reduction index (WRI) was also significant: moisture levels at or below 55% maintained a WRI below 1.5, while levels between 60% and 80% peaked at a WRI of 2.5. Conversely, moisture content above 80% led to a decrease in WRI. Waste reduction efficiency was found to be optimal between 60-80% moisture, with temperature playing a pivotal role in the composting process optimal at 30°C for enhanced decomposition rates. Recommendations for effective MSW reduction include routine monitoring of environmental conditions, implementing preliminary fermentation, and promoting aerobic conditions to enhance microbial activity and waste management strategies in Uganda. DECLARATION