Figure 1 System Model
Food waste up-cycler is a perfect solution for the worsening food waste problem. Recently, food waste weighing as much as 226 double-decker buses is being produced in Hong Kong in just one day. However, as little as 4.6% of it is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills. Black soldier flies are insects that can rapidly consume various types of food waste, able to consume their own bodyweight in food waste in a single day. With their antimicrobial peptides, their bodies can kill toxic bacteria without spreading any diseases.
To provide an optimum growth environment for the black soldier fly larvae (around 25℃ and in a relative humidity of 70%-80%), a prototype comprised of a food waste digester and a solar power generator was built. The larvae digest the food waste in the digestion chamber and their excrete can be collected separately in the fertilizer collection chamber. Weight sensors, hygrometers, thermometers, ultrasonic sensors, UV lights and valve structures are used with IoT phone app to monitor and regulate temperature and humidity.
For education, our team produced a video to educate our students on how to treat food waste properly during lunchtime. Our system fulfills the goal of sustainable development, being powered by renewable solar energy and using a self-sustaining circular economy to use the black soldier flies for animal feed, chitosan source, fertilizer, etc.
To summarize, our innovation creates a small household device suited for Hong Kong residents to eliminate food waste and reduce carbon emissions. Not only do we hope to solve the food waste problem in some small communities, but also contribute to making the whole world a better place.
Figure 1 System Model