Colombia, a South American country, has come up with a new way to deal with its waste management issues: enlisting the help of beetles.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the larvae of giant rhinoceros beetles are being employed to help eat through piles of organic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. These beetles play a crucial role in reducing waste accumulation.
But that’s not the end of the story. The excrement of these beetle larvae is collected and sold as fertilizer, and once the larvae mature, they can even be sold as pets to overseas customers in countries like the United States and Japan.
German Viasus, an environmental and health engineer responsible for the project in the Boyaca region of central Colombia, told AFP, “Beetles are the answer to waste management.”
Viasus mentioned that this method is simple, cost-effective, and easily replicable in other parts of the world.
Every week, the waste processing station in Tunja receives around 15 tons of garbage transported from nearby cities, generated by approximately 40,000 residents.
The garbage is stacked up, allowing swarms of beetle larvae to consume it and aid in its decomposition. Some larvae are also placed in tanks to help break down wastewater generated from organic waste decomposition, which, if released directly, could harm the ecosystem.
Reportedly, this new method came about after the failure of using earthworms to decompose waste in Tunja back in 2000. Viasus stumbled upon the beetle larvae feeding on waste inside garbage bags, which led to his innovative idea.
The beetles currently being raised by Viasus are descendants of the first batch that consumed waste. The larvae stage lasts about 4 months before they begin to transform and develop a hard shell. The lifespan of these beetles varies from a few months to three years.
Colombian authorities estimate that the country produces approximately 32,000 tons of waste daily, with about half of it being organic waste.
Global data from the United Nations indicates that around 11.2 billion tons of waste are generated annually worldwide.
Currently, clients from countries like Germany, Canada, France, the United States, and Japan purchase these adult beetles as pets. In Colombia, these beetles are even considered lucky charms.