Introduction

In today's world, effective organic waste management is crucial for both environmental sustainability and economic viability. At Zaida Agri-Solutions, we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement, transforming organic waste into valuable resources through innovative methods like black soldier fly production.

We're passionate about finding innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Our mission is to divert organic waste from landfills and transform it into valuable resources.

By harnessing the power of nature, we're not only reducing waste but also making a significant contribution to combating climate change.

The Problem of Landfill Methane

Landfills are notorious for producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. When organic waste decomposes in landfills’ anaerobic environment, it releases methane into the atmosphere. This gas is 28-36 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 100-year period (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2014).For every 1,000 tons (907 metric tons) of food waste landfilled, an estimated 34 metric tons of fugitive methane emissions (1,088 mt CO2e) are released (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2021).

For every 1,000 tons (907 metric tons) of food waste landfilled, an estimated 34 metric tons of fugitive methane emissions (1,088 mt CO2e) are released (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2021).

Our Sustainable Solution

At Zaida, we've developed a sustainable approach to organic waste management.

1. We collect organic waste from various sources, including municipal markets, households, restaurants, and businesses.
2. This waste is transported to our processing facilities.
3. The waste is used for black soldier fly production.

The Power of Black Soldier Flies

Black soldier fly larvae are a game-changer in organic waste management:

1. They rapidly consume organic waste, reducing its volume by up to 50-80% (Diener et al., 2011).
2. The larvae are a valuable source of protein for animal feed, providing a nutritious and sustainable alternative to traditional feed sources.
3. The larvae's frass, or excrement, is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer that can be used to improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Environmental Impact

By diverting 10 tonnes of organic waste from landfills each month, we are making a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s how:

1. Methane Reduction: For every 1,000 tons of food waste landfilled, an estimated 34 metric tons of methane emissions are released (EPA, 2021). By diverting 10 tonnes of organic waste, we prevent approximately 340 kg of methane from being released into the atmosphere.
2. Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO₂e): Methane has a global warming potential (GWP) 28 to 36 times that of CO₂ over a 100-year period (IPCC, 2014). Therefore, using the conservative estimate of 28, our efforts result in a reduction of approximately 9,520 kg CO₂e each month.
   

Our monthly waste diversion efforts prevent the equivalent of 9.52 metric tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

Additional Benefits

Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our sustainable waste management practices offer several other benefits:

• Resource conservation: By recycling organic waste, we're conserving valuable resources that would otherwise be lost to landfills.
• Improved soil health: Our organic fertilizer helps to enhance soil fertility and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals (Setti et al., 2019).
• Support for local agriculture: Our black soldier fly larvae provide a sustainable feed option for local farmers and livestock producers (Makkar et al., 2014).

Conclusion

Our commitment to sustainable waste management not only helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also provides valuable resources for agriculture and animal feed. Our innovative approach demonstrates that sustainability and economic growth can go hand-in-hand.

At Zaida, we believe that every small step counts towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Join us in our mission to make a positive impact on the environment. Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

Call to Action

If you are interested in learning more about our process or partnering with us, please visit our website or contact us at zaidaorganic@gmail.com.

References:

Diener, S., Zurbrügg, C., & Tockner, K. (2011). Bioconversion of organic waste into high protein feed and fertilizer by the black soldier fly. Waste Management, 31(9-10), 1725-1733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.05.024

Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Waste Reduction Model (WARM) Version 15. https://www.epa.gov/warm

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland.

Makkar, H. P. S., Tran, G., Heuzé, V., & Ankers, P. (2014). State-of-the-art on use of insects as animal feed. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 197, 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.07.008

Setti, L., Francia, E., Pulvirenti, A., Gigliano, S., Zaccardelli, M., Pane, C., Caradonia, F., Bortolini, S., Maistrello, L., & Ronga, D. (2019). Use of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae processing residue in peat-based growing media. Waste Management, 95, 278-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.06.017