Is Feeding Flies Our Food Waste the Key to an Eco-Friendly Future?

Most people don’t think twice before swatting away flies. The sight of larvae can make anyone cringe. However, some cities are turning that perspective on its head. In Vilnius, Lithuania, a waste management company, Energesman, is using fly larvae to process food waste for over 600,000 residents. They handle about 2,700 tonnes of food scraps each year, which could save the city nearly €2 million annually.

Founded earlier this year, Energesman has a unique strategy. They launched new orange food waste bags to encourage residents to sort their trash. With food waste collection now mandatory, the city is exploring innovative ways to deal with this challenge. CEO Algirda Blazgys noted that the 2,700 tonnes collected is just a small portion of the estimated 40,000 tonnes of total household waste produced in the city.

What makes fly larvae so effective? They can eat a massive amount of food waste in their early life stages. Studies have shown that they can devour a pizza in just two hours. The larvae are collected before they mature into flies, ensuring they remain a valuable protein source for animal feed and other products.

Alongside their waste management effort, Energesman is working on transforming the larvae into various commercial products. They are experimenting with new markets, including the paint and glue industries, which could revive the lingering curiosity about insect protein. While the outcomes have been mixed—like paint that didn’t match the expected color—the potential is there. They even supply larvae to fishermen as live bait.

Interestingly, regulations in the EU restrict using food waste-fed larvae in human food products to avoid contamination. This limits some of the economic potential for companies like Energesman, but it also shows how regulations have yet to catch up with advancements in waste management technologies.

Outside of Europe, there are similar projects. In Kenya, Project Mila uses fly larvae to tackle food waste while providing fertilizers for farmers. Australia’s Goterra is also working to manage food scraps through this method, aiming to process nearly 90 tonnes of discarded food in a limited trial.

In the UK, however, the pace is slower due to regulations that prevent councils from adopting similar strategies. Larry Kotch of Flybox believes the industry has significant potential. With the upcoming changes in waste collection laws, there’s hope that UK councils may eventually embrace insect-based solutions, aligning with ongoing efforts to mitigate the staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food waste generated globally each year. He emphasizes that up to 40% could potentially be recycled through insect processing, a cleaner and more sustainable method compared to landfills.

As countries explore innovative waste solutions, the humble fly may just have a crucial role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.

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