Christian Zurbrügg

Eawag: Das Wasserforschungs-Institut des ETH-Bereichs | Eawag · Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries

Biowaste treatment with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens L.) can promote a more sustainable food system by reusing nutrients that would otherwise be wasted. However, many agri-food wastes and byproducts are typically high in lignocellulosic fibers (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), making it resistant to efficient larval...

Inadequate solid waste management (SWM) can lead to environmental contamination and human health risks. The health risks from poor SWM can vary based on specific practices and exposure pathways. Thus, it is necessary to adequately understand the local context. This information, however, is rarely available in low-resource settings, particularly in...

Black soldier fly larvae composting is an emerging treatment option with potential to improve biowaste valorization capacity in cities of low-income countries. This study surveyed the current generation and management status of food industry biowaste and their availability and suitability as potential feedstock for BSFL-composting treatment in thre...

The availability and continuous supply of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is crucial for efficient operation of a BSF biowaste recycling facility. Its rearing performance was for the first time investigated in Pakistan under outdoor ambient weather conditions. Comparison of the findings with the BSF rearing performance of Indonesia’s facility highl...

At the current rate of progress, there will probably still be 2.8 billion people world-wide without safely managed sanitation by 2030. To incentivise and increase implementation of sustainable faecal sludge management (FSM), especially in low and middle-income countries like Cambodia, human waste must be regarded as a resource. However, planning da...

1. Due to the increasing global demand for more sustainably produced animal protein, there is an intensive search for feeds to replace soybeans. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) appear to have great potential for replacing soybeans in poultry diets. The main objective of this study was to determine if the nutritional value of BSFL is superior to soy...

Comprehensive knowledge of faecal sludge characteristics is needed for sludge management planning, but it is lacking for the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Thus, this study characterised physicochemical properties of faecal sludge from households in Phnom Penh and related these to sludge containment unit type, unit age, connectedness to the urban dr...

The water, sanitation, and solid waste sectors are closely related and have many interactions between their respective service chains in low-and middle-income countries. Currently, these interactions mostly lead to cross-contamination, and opportunities for co-benefits are seldom realized. This review presents the key advancements within each of th...

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment is an emerging technology for the valorisation of nutrients from biowaste. Selecting suitable substrates for BSFL treatment is a frequent challenge for researchers and practitioners. We conducted a systematic assessment of BSFL treatment substrates in Nairobi, Kenya to source more substrate for upscaling an...

Waste management service is inefficient in peri-urban and rural areas where biowaste is a major component of the household waste produced. Biowaste recycling using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) at source can reduce the burden on the authorities and add economic value to a yet underutilized resource. This study evaluated the practicability of BSFL...

In recent years, decentralized composting appeared as one of the most appropriate treatment options for organic waste valorization in low- and middle-income countries. In Cote d’Ivoire, a pilot project has proved the feasibility of organic municipal solid waste composting for the city of Tiassalé. However, numerous issues still need to be addressed...

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae composting is a promising waste treatment that can add value to available biodegradable waste. However, substrates that have low protein content and contain complex molecules (e.g. fruit peels) are not easily degraded by the larvae. This study evaluated the impact on the BSF larvae composting efficiency of co-composti...

This book deals with urban organic municipal waste from households, commercial activities, and institutions. It describes the approach of biowaste conversion by insect larvae, using the example of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens. This engineered biosystem consists of feeding segregated biowaste to BSF larvae, which are reared in a nu...

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are widely used in recycling and upcycling of nutrients in agri-food by-products, but low and inconsistent BSFL rearing performance (i.e. larval growth, bioconversion rate, and substrate reduction) has been identified as a key challenge. The aims of this research were two-fold: (1) validate an existing closed rearing...

Implementing insects, such as the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), as animal feed commonly includes the previous removal of substantial amounts of fat. This fat may represent an as yet underutilized energy source for livestock. However, transfer of lauric and myristic acid, prevalent in BSFL fat and undesired in human nutrition, into animal-source...

Municipal solid waste (MSW) can pose a threat to public health if it is not safely managed. Despite prior research, uncertainties remain and refurbished evidence is needed along with new approaches. We conducted a systematic review of recently published literature to update and expand the epidemiological evidence on the association between MSW mana...

Currently, there is a great interest in finding alternative protein and energy sources to replace soybean-based feeds in poultry diets. The main objective of the present study was to completely replace soybean in layer diets with defatted meal and fat from black soldier fly larvae without adverse effects. For this purpose, 5 × 10 Lohmann Brown Clas...

A previous trial (using densities of 2,500-7,500 prepupae per crate) revealed that with the densities tested no effect on the emergence rate could be found and it was concluded that densities could be further increased. For the study presented here, 6 different densities between 7,500 and 20,000 prepupae per crate were tested and evaluated. The pre...

Significant economic, environmental, and social impacts are associated with the avoidable disposal of foods worldwide. Mass-rearing of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae using organic wastes and food- and agro-industry side products is promising for recycling resources within the food system. One current challenge of this approach is ensu...

Despite many composting initiatives implemented in recent years throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, there is yet a lack of data on material flows and the potential contribution of decentralized composting towards greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. This study fills this gap assessing flows, emissions reduction and other environmental benefits of decentrali...

Large-scale insect rearing for food and feed production can be improved by understanding diet digestion and host-microbe interactions. To examine these processes in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, two protocols were developed. Protocol 1 describes a method to produce viable, sterile black soldier fly larvae...

Black soldier fly larvae treatment is an emerging technology for the conversion of biowaste into potentially more sustainable and marketable high-value products, according to circular economy principles. Unknown or variable performance for different biowastes is currently one challenge that prohibits the global technology up-scaling. This study des...

We propose to predict histograms of object sizes in crowded scenes directly without any explicit object instance segmentation. What makes this task challenging is the high density of objects (of the same category), which makes instance identification hard. Instead of explicitly segmenting object instances, we show that directly learning histograms...

A key challenge for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment is its variable reliability and efficiency when applied to different biowastes. Similar to other biowaste treatment technologies, co-conversion could compensate for variability in the composition of biowastes. Using detailed nutrient analyses, this study assessed whether mixing biowastes...

Use of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae (BSFL) is among the solutions being explored to shift the value chain in organic waste management by producing valuable products. Although BSFL consume a range of substrates, nutrient-imbalanced materials with high hemicellulose and lignin content, e.g. manure and bana...

Cities of low and middle-income countries face severe challenges in managing the increasing amount of waste produced, especially the organic fraction. Black Soldier Fly (BSF) biowaste treatment is an attractive treatment option as it offers a solution for waste management while also providing a protein source to help alleviate the rising global dem...

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) has become one of the most pressing environmental issues in South Asian cities, the more so as it is closely linked to drinking water quality, sanitation and human health affecting mostly the urban poor, as well as to global climate change. Looking at recent governance initiatives in three South Asian cities...

In the city of Blantyre, much of the generated municipal waste is biowaste, typically mixed with other waste fractions and disposed at the city’s dumpsite. Energy and nutrients could be recovered; however, with many biowaste options available, choosing what technology to implement is difficult. Selecting Organic Waste Treatment Technology (SOWATT)...

This publication provides knowledge on a low-tech and cheap technology alternative for slow pyrolysis. There are numerous ways to design and operate a slow pyrolysis unit. Typically it requires a single, homogenized and dry material as feedstock. The primary goal of this manual however, is to show that urban biowaste can be used. The output, the ch...

Processing of biowaste with larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is an emerging waste treatment technology. Larvae grown on biowaste can be a relevant raw material for animal feed production and can therefore provide revenues for financially viable waste management systems. In addition, when produced on bi...

Global population growth has led to an urgent need for more efficient food production systems. Moreover, as income levels increase, dietary preferences are shifting to more animal-based products. However, current feed protein sources deplete wild fish populations and contribute to rainforest deforestation. Capturing the resources in organic waste c...

We are pleased to recognize some of our top reviewers for 2017. In 2017, the journal requested external reviews for 1186 manuscripts and 5429 external reviews were submitted, with some reviewers providing as many as 11 reviews. As co-editors-in-chief, we extend our sincere thanks to all of our reviewers. In this issue, we are pleased to recognize 3...

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections caused 4.98 million years live with disability globally in 2014, mostly affecting the poor. When farmers handle excreta for reuse in agriculture, involuntary ingestion of excreta particles is an important infection pathway for STH infections. The aim of this study was to quantify farmers' ingestion of huma...

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical conversion process with the potential to treat the prevalent wet urban biowaste in low- and middle-income countries. The generated hydrochar solids are a hygienic, homogenized, carbon rich and energy dense product with economic value that can be used as an alternative to wood-based charcoal or fo...

Poor wastewater management that results from a lack of appropriate sanitation infrastructure contributes to increasing health risks in urban areas in Côte d’Ivoire. We assessed the health risks associated with the use of wastewater for watering salad destined for human consumption, to help local authorities in developing appropriate risk mitigation...

Recycling organic waste material (biowaste) still remains fairly limited, especially in low- and middle-income settings, although this is by far the largest fraction of all generated municipal waste. This book deals with urban organic municipal waste from households, commercial activities, and institutions. It describes the approach of biowaste con...

The original motivation of this book springs from the pilot project in an established waste management that involves market mechanism, as generating revenue from organic waste management raises challenging issue on business sustainability. This book seeks to explore critical perspectives of an international nature on social enterprise at waste mana...

Treatment of biowaste, the predominant waste fraction in low- and middle-income settings, offers public health, environmental and economic benefits by converting waste into a hygienic product, diverting it from disposal sites, and providing a source of income. This article presents a comprehensive overview of 13 biowaste treatment technologies, gr...

Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical process that converts wet organic matter into a sterile, high-calorific solid material called hydrochar. This technology is considered an interesting option for low- and middle-income urban settings, often lacking adequate services and high fraction of wet organic waste. The aim of this study was...

Objectives: We studied the influence of different additive materials (lime, and rice husk) and aeration conditions on Ascaris lumbricoides egg die-off in 24 vaults of an experimental excreta storage unit. Methods: Excreta samples were collected once every two weeks over a 181-day period. Temperature, pH, and moisture content were recorded. A. lu...

Many households in many low and middle income settings have difficulties in finding affordable, reliable and sustainable cooking fuel. Charcoal, solid fuel resulting from carbonizing wood biomass, is still the main fuel consumed by over 90% of households in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This puts increasing pressure on the national woodlands. Char produ...

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to assess the diarrhea risks caused by various pathogens among those exposed to biogas wastewater through different activities. Methods: Application of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of biogas wastewater was conducted in Hanam Province, Vietnam. A total of 451 representatives from households t...

Urban animal farming is becoming increasingly important in feeding the growing population of many sub-Saharan African cities. However, management of the animal manure generated is proving to be challenging due to space restrictions. Vermicomposting is one of the methods proposed to address this challenge. This study investigated the environmental p...

Urban households in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs) face the challenge of finding affordable, reliable and sustainable cooking fuel supplies. Most city residents use wood-based charcoal derived from mostly informal supply chains, which are linked to unsustainable forest logging, low efficiency production methods and long transportation ro...

In Kampala city about 60% of animal manure generated is discarded leading to health and environmental challenges. However about 30% of this manure is used as fertilizer mainly in the form of stored animal manure. The manure could also be vermicomposted or anaerobically digestated and used in crop production. However, it has not yet been clearly est...

In developing countries, effective waste management strategies are constrained by high collection costs and lack of adequate treatment and disposal options. The organic fraction in particular, which accounts for more than 50% of the waste production, constitutes a great, yet mostly neglected, reuse potential. Concomitantly, the demand for alternati...

Characterization of the Nouakchott household solid waste stream destined for landfilling revealed a waste density of 0.41 kg/m³ and a moisture content of 9%, which is low compared to other countries. Generation rates averaged 0.21 kg per capita day?1 (0.19; 0.23 and 0.22 kg per capita day?1 respectively at the low, medium and the high income level)...

The first step in sound waste management practice is to characterize the waste stream quantitatively and qualitatively. This study was undertaken to test a waste characterization methodology designed to be appropriate for the specific socioeconomic context of developing countries. Specifically, this novel method allows quantification and characteri...

Solid waste mismanagement in Dhaka, Bangladesh, illustrates a well-known market failure which can be summarized as: waste is a resource in the wrong place. Inorganic materials such as plastic or paper can be used to feed the demand for recycled materials in the industrial sector. Organic materials can be converted and used in the nutrient-starved a...

In the face of increasing phosphorus prices, Nepal, like all agrarian societies is in imminent need of a low-cost, sustainable source of phosphorus and nitrogen. The town of Siddhipur in the Kathmandu valley was selected as a study site to determine the feasibility of establishing a community-scale struvite processing centre using source-separated...

The poor state of solid waste management in Dar es Salaam (DSM), Tanzania, the large fraction of organic waste generated and a high charcoal consumption by city residents has triggered this research on carbonization of municipal biowaste. Char produced by the thermochemical conversion method of slow pyrolysis can be briquetted and used as cooking f...

The second edition of this book contains 32 chapters divided into 4 main sections that discuss the theoretical foundations of One Health; methods, skills and perspectives for the practice of One Health; the application of One Health in infectious and non-infectious diseases and governance and capacity building, all of which are related to the globa...

The One Health concept of combined veterinary and human health continues to gain momentum, but the supporting literature is sparse. In this book, the origins of the concept are examined, and practical content on methodological tools, data gathering, monitoring techniques, study designs, and mathematical models is included. Zoonotic diseases, with d...

The One Health concept of combined veterinary and human health continues to gain momentum, but the supporting literature is sparse. In this book, the origins of the concept are examined, and practical content on methodological tools, data gathering, monitoring techniques, study designs, and mathematical models is included. Zoonotic diseases, with d...