Maggots, the larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF), have emerged as a powerful ally in organic waste decomposition.
Their remarkable ability to transform waste into organic compost offers a promising solution to waste management challenges, particularly in Yogyakarta. Among the community groups harnessing this potential is Omah Nyantrik Maggot.
The UGM Center for Environmental Studies recently had the privilege of visiting Sentot Sugiarto and Mart Widarto, the visionaries behind Omah Nyantrik, on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
“Last year, with the closure of the Piyungan landfill, waste management became a pressing issue, prompting the rise of various waste bank initiatives. However, the focus was predominantly on sorting inorganic waste, leaving organic waste unattended. This inspired us in Banguntapan to explore waste management using maggots,” explained Sentot Sugiarto.
Unlike larvae of other species, maggots offer unique advantages. Sugiarto highlighted their ability to swiftly consume organic waste and convert it into protein compounds, offering a more practical and hygienic solution than other larvae.
Efforts to manage waste in the area date back to 2015. Residents were encouraged to segregate their waste at the household level before depositing it into waste banks.
Before adopting maggots, the community experimented with methods like losida, bio pores, and stacked buckets for organic waste processing. However, these methods were deemed inefficient and time-consuming, especially with 108 households in Banguntapan.
Consequently, local community leaders, including Sentot Sugiarto and Mart Widarto, transitioned to maggot-assisted decomposition, significantly streamlining the process.
“Our community sorts waste, depositing inorganic waste in the waste bank and organic waste for maggot processing. Maggots display remarkable voracity, consuming three times their body weight in food daily. Their efficiency surpasses that of African earthworms; maggots are unparalleled in activity and consumption,” highlighted Widarto.
The challenge in waste management lies in the management process and the lack of household-level waste sorting. Mixed waste requires additional sorting, slowing down the waste processing chain.
The impending closure of the Piyungan landfill in April 2024 has prompted the government to mandate the establishment of waste transfer stations (TPS) in each regency.
However, urban areas still grapple with space constraints for waste management facilities, raising concerns about unmanaged waste accumulation on city streets.
According to Sugiarto, each household can adopt maggot cultivation to process its organic waste rather than implementing large-scale maggot-assisted waste decomposition.
“We view Omah Nyantrik not merely as a business venture. Innovations like this would likely falter if they had been oriented solely towards profit. Instead, I envision Omah Nyantrik as an ecosystem conversion, instilling a sense of human accountability for waste generation,” Sugiarto added.
“Here, we delve into the study of maggots, their characteristics, and the entire decomposition process to create a comprehensive waste management system.”
Encouraging communities to take responsibility for their waste management is paramount. While disposing of waste without sorting may seem convenient, its long-term repercussions are undeniable.
Therefore, any initiative, regardless of scale, addressing waste issues is a significant step towards sustainable living. UGM’s collaboration with Omah Nyantrik Maggot through this Sustainable Podcast aligns with the objectives of SDG 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production.”
Author: Tasya