City turns to worm-like bugs in waste ‘war'
Almost 90 tonnes of food scraps have been chowed down by a horde of maggots employed by the City of Sydney since January, in an effort to slash the estimated 40 per cent of residential waste that is food scraps.
'Sydney's landfill space is running out fast, making these projects vital,' Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO said.
'It's an approach that is net positive, removing more carbon emissions from the environment than it generates.'
Ms Moore said the trial aims to create a 'circular economy solution' by generating fertiliser and animal protein to be used in producing more food.
Over 7.3 million tonnes of food is wasted in Australia every year, which averages to roughly 300 kgs of food per person per year, according to Clean Up Australia. Household food waste makes up about 34% of the total amount.
When food waste is sent directly to landfill, its decomposition process produces methane. It is 'a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide to the atmosphere,' according to the environmental organisation.
Unlike most local government areas, the City of Sydney estimates about 80 per cent of residents live in apartments and don't have green lid bins to adequately dispose of food waste. It means most of the area's waste gets sent straight to landfill.
The City of Sydney announced in June it had partnered with Australian start-up Goterra to trial the use of black soldier fly larvae to consume food scraps from residents in Sydney's inner suburbs.
Ms Moore said at the time it was 'the next step in our war against waste'.
Over the 12-month trial, it's hoped up to 500 tonnes of food scraps collected from about 22,500 households will be diverted from landfill.
Inside the Alexandria facility, shipping-container style units house the larvae who feast on food scraps. Each unit houses up to 15 million maggots.
Their waste is turned into fertiliser, while the worm-like creatures become protein sources for fish, poultry and pet food.
'Waste is processed closer to where it's collected, which cuts down on fuel costs and emissions. It's an approach that is net positive, removing more carbon emissions from the environment than it generates,' Ms Moore said.
Alexandria is Goterra's seventh facility, with the company recently opening a site in Wetherill Park, in Sydney's west.
'This is a bold step forward in waste-to-value management, transforming everyday food waste from across the city into valuable inputs for agriculture,' Goterra founder Olympia Yarger said.
'In partnership with the City of Sydney and Bingo, we're at the forefront of circular innovation and are preparing for the FOGO Recycling Bill, which mandates diversion of residential food waste from landfill from July 2030.
'The future of zero food waste to landfill is coming and we're proud to be leading the way.'
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