Garbage is a growing menace in Goa today and its timely disposal is taking a huge toll on Goans at large. As many find it inconvenient to dispose of their garbage in the neighbour’s backyard, heaps of it is seen lying in open spaces, thus causing a health hazard to the general public.
But Eleuterio Carneiro from Navelim has a solution to the garbage menace, especially the wet waste, which keeps on multiplying in the kitchen of every household. He proudly says that the wet waste composting unit using the black soldier fly larvae is the best solution to get rid of the wet waste.
Having graduated in Fine Arts from Goa College of Art, Panaji, and presently serving as an Art teacher at Diocesan Society of Education’s St Anthony High School, Galgibaga, Canacona, Carneiro informed that black soldier fly, which feasts on wet waste, was first spotted by Dr Svarna Fonseca, professor at Carmel College, when she attempted to collect the black soldier fly larvae for her daughter’s science project from Sonsodo garbage dumping site.
“Dr Fonseca’s daughter used it for wet waste composting unit with the help of black soldier fly larvae and she won the first prize for the project,” Carneiro revealed. Her unique project inspired him to go ahead with the same idea, after collecting some larvae from Dr Fonseca.
Now, how does the entire concept work? Explains Carneiro, “You require any abandoned metal, plastic container or a barrel and then all you have to do is dump the everyday wet waste in it. Next, drop the black soldier fly larvae in the container, which will feast on the wet waste. An opening made for the container will help, after a certain period of time, the excess larvae to flow out, which can serve as rich food to the poultry as it contains proteins.”
“If you check it out,” says Carneiro, “the market feed for poultry comprises of 50 kg bag costing Rs 1,500 and it can feed 25 birds per week.” “But with regards to the composting unit, the byproduct which is the compost is a continuous feed to the poultry,” he added.
“The wet waste composting unit is basically to fill the wet waste and convert it into compost,” Carneiro, a social worker and environmental activist further explains, “to convert it into compost, it requires microbes. So black soldier fly larvae eat the waste and the byproduct is the compost.” “The black soldier fly larvae is not harmful and will not spread any disease like malaria or dysentery,” he adds.
Carneiro says that the presence of black soldier fly larvae in the container will help keep house flies away and even if accidentally one house fly lands inside the container, it will not survive for more than a day. He cannot explain the reason behind its vanishing act, but he says it is a fact and needs to be researched.
“As it is a social cause,” informs Carneiro, “he is willing to assist those willing to possess the wet waste composting unit, provided he gets the required material. And along with the unit he is generous to offer the larvae. He revealed that the central government, especially ICAR is promoting backyard poultry along with the composting unit.
“ICAR provides one week training, besides one free cage for poultry storage, besides 4 fowls, one cock and one composting unit,” Carneiro revealed. “The by product or final compost of wet waste can later be used for kitchen garden or agricultural purpose,” he added.
Initially, Carneiro took the lead by setting up the unit in his house first and later in his neighbourhood. He has also assisted people from Verna, Old Goa, Valpo and Pernem.
One villager in Navelim, Gerald Pereira, who owns the composting unit, says that he is content with it as it helps to dispose the wet waste easily. “There’s no tension, whatsoever,” he adds, “as all the waste gets dumped in the unit and the menace of flies and foul odour is at bay.”
