Summary

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--SUPERS--
00:00-:00:39
AFP
Tunja, Colombia
July 18, 2024

00:27-00:33
Germán Viasus Tibamoso
Environmental and Health Engineer

00:39-00:43
Google Maps

00:43-:end
AFP
Tunja, Colombia

01:02-01:15
Jefferson Bastidas
Electronics Vendor

01:32-01:41
Germán Viasus Tibamoso
Environmental and Health Engineer

--LEAD IN--
AT A LANDFILL IN COLOMBIA, THE LARVAE OF RHINOCEROS BEETLES ARE EATING ORGANIC TRASH AND CREATING RICH FERTILIZER
RAFAEL ROMO EXPLAINS HOW THESE TITANS OF NATURE TURN TRASH INTO TREASURE WHILE PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
IN THE COLOMBIAN HIGHLANDS -- A NEW SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND TO TACKLE AN ESCALATING TRASH PROBLEM
THESE ARE THE UNLIKELY HEROES OF THE STORY: THE LARVAE OF RHINOCEROS BEETLES, which FEED ON ORGANIC WASTE
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY THING THESE BEETLES HAVE TO OFFER --
Larvae poop is also SOLD AS FERTILIZER AND --
ONCE THE BEETLES REACH ADULTHOOD--
THEY CAN BE SOLD AS PETsto buyers as far away as Japan
Germán Viasus Tibamoso, environmental and health engineer (ENGLISH TRANSLATION): The beetles have the answer, but we haven't seen the full potential of the function they have
EVERY WEEK, 15 TONS OF WASTE ARE COLLECTED AT THIS FACILITY IN TUNJA, A CITY ABOUT 130 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF BOGOTA
ONCE IT'S PILED UP, THE LARVAE -- WHICH CAN GROW AS LONG AS A HUMAN HAND -- DIG IN
OTHER LARVAE ARE PLACED IN TANKS -- WHERE THEY CONSUME LIQUID ORGANIC WASTE THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT
WITH THE LANDFILL CLOSE TO CAPACITY, THE LARVAE PROVIDE AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION
Jefferson Bastidas, electronics vendor (ENGLISH TRANSLATION): The world is so polluted that we are suffocating from the garbage we generate ourselves, and this is a change for humanity, for our children who are coming after us, and we need to make that change for humanity
THE UN ESTIMATES THAT AROUND 112 BILLION TONS OF TRASH ARE GENERATED GLOBALLY EACH YEAR
COLOMBIA PRODUCES AROUND 32,000 TONS OF WASTE DAILY -- ABOUT HALF OF WHICH IS ORGANIC
Germán Viasus Tibamoso, environmental and health engineer (ENGLISH TRANSLATION): We should aim to preserve beetles because they are responsible for breaking down all the organic waste produced by humanity today
THE LARVAE START TO BECOME BEETLES AFTER ABOUT FOUR MONTHS, WHEN THEY DEVELOP HARD SHELLS
RHINOCEROUS BEETLES CAN LIVE UP TO THREE YEARS
SOME ARE EXPORTED TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHILE OTHERS STAY IN COLOMBIA-- WHERE THEY ARE SEEN AS GOOD LUCK CHARMS
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN
-----END-----CNNSCRIPT-----

--KEYWORD TAGS--
COLOMBIA BEETLE TRASH