Black Soldier Fly Bin – the natural decarbonize solution to upcycle food waste into organic fertilizer to promote the circular food system
Black Soldier Fly Bin – the natural decarbonize solution to upcycle food waste into organic fertilizer to promote the circular food system
The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Bins are a carbon-negative food waste consumption system at HKUST. The project is an innovative and large-scale solution to minimize carbon emissions from food waste disposal in landfills or incinerators. By utilizing black soldier fly larvae, the BSF Bins convert both cooked and uncooked campus waste into organic fertilizer. The larvae have a feeding stage lasting 20-30 days, during which they consume various organic materials, i.e. food waste. The organic fertilizer produced will be used for landscaping and gardening purposes. Each bin can process up to 50kg of food waste per day. By October 2025, the project aims to reduce around 27.1 tonnes of food waste which is equivalent to approximately 27+ tCO2e. Additionally, the BSF Bins will generate 3-4 tonnes of organic fertilizer, offsetting the need for approximately 300kg of chemical fertilizers on campus, achieving efficient waste reduction on campus.
What is the problem this project is trying to address?
As a global issue, food waste in its disposal process is one of the significant contributors to climate change. The introduction of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Bins serves as a decentralized solution and recycles unwanted food on campus, reducing methane emissions and mitigating the environmental impact. Currently, HKUST canteens rely on contractors to handle food waste. BSF Bins now offer an innovative and automated approach within a closed box, eliminating the need for external transportation and minimizing odor. The project not only promotes carbon reduction through benchmarking the BSF Bins but also highlights the importance of decentralization in managing food waste effectively, showcasing an alternative and sustainable approach to waste management. By diverting food waste from landfills, this project tackles the environmental impact of food waste on campus while offering an educational tool for sustainable waste management practices.
How does this project support our sustainable smart campus as a living lab vision?
The project performs a circular economy approach using BSF larvae to transform on-campus food waste into natural fertilizers for on-campus landscaping. Additionally, the BSF Bins are equipped with smart devices for management and control. Their closed-box system ensures no odor issues and allows for data-driven controls and monitoring using IoT sensors powered by solar energy. The collected data, including temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels, facilitates further research on the consumption rate of black soldier fly larvae with different types of food waste, as well as the relationship between the nutrient content of the fertilizer and the food waste input. This project showcases HKUST's commitment as a ‘living lab’ on sustainability and smart waste management practices.