Project Description
This project was part of a CSIRO project aimed to investigate how the contaminants (including microplastics) in biosolid behave when treated with soldier flies . The aim of microplastic testing was to determine the fate of plastic in the larvae process. As plastic can be ingested by larvae this project aimed to explore whether microplastic present in the insect larvae when they are harvested.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
CSIRO and Queensland urban utilities are the main partners involved that will directly benefit from the outcome of this project by knowing about the fate of microplastics in waste processed by black soldier flies.
Outcomes to Date
The findings of this project showed that biosolids (food for black soldier flies) are contaminated by microplastics and that microplastics present in the frass material produced during decomposition process which means larvae has been ingested microplastics in biosolids that can also cause harmful effects to the larvae itself.
Project Significance
The black soldier fly is gaining attention as an efficient decomposer of food waste and human waste. However, contaminants such as plastics mixed into the waste may have negative effects on the efficiency of the decomposition process. Moreover, their final product that can be used for improving soil and plant quality as fertilizer can be contaminated with microplastics. Therefore, it is important to know about the concentration of microplastics in 1) the waste (in this case biosolid) 2) and how much plastics will end up in the waste frass material.