Comparative performance of Hermetia illucens and Eisenia fetida for organic waste bioconversion under laboratory and field conditions

Biological valorization of organic waste can support circular economy practices and reduce the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste management. However, comparative on the effectiveness evidence on the performance of Hermetia illucens and Eisenia fetida under laboratory and field conditions remains limited, particularly in neotropical urban environments. This study evaluated H. illucens larvae and E. fetida adults using prepared fruit and vegetable residues collected from the Central de Abastos of Xalapa, Mexico. A completely randomized design comprised three treatments ( H. illucens , E. fetida , and a control without added organisms), with 30 replicates per treatment in each of three laboratory seasons and in one rainy-season field trial. We assessed performance using waste reduction rate, processing time, and net biomass gain rate. In the laboratory, treatment, season, and their interaction significantly affected waste reduction rate and processing time (P < 0.05). Net biomass gain rate differed significantly between species, and a significant treatment × season interaction was detected. Hermetia illucens consistently showed higher waste reduction rates and shorter processing times than E. fetida , but the magnitude of laboratory treatment differences varied among seasons. Additionally, the field trial had longer processing times and was analyzed separately because scale and organism-to-waste loading ratios differed from the laboratory. Species selection should align with the operational objectives and environmental context of waste management programs. This consideration is particularly critical in low- and middle-income cities where waste management systems are often inefficient.