In the near pitch-dark of a unique waste processing facility in Jinan, China, millions of cockroaches are at work, turning food scraps into valuable resources. As cities expand, food waste is becoming a growing issue, and these resilient insects offer an innovative solution. Shandong Qiaobin Agriculture Technology has taken the lead, feeding cockroaches 50 tonnes of kitchen waste daily the equivalent of seven adult elephants — in a warm, humid environment that suits their voracious appetites.

Once the cockroaches consume the waste, they eventually die, providing nutrient-rich food for livestock, especially pigs. The waste-to-resource process has gained traction due to a national ban on feeding food scraps to pigs due to swine fever. Liu Yusheng, president of the Shandong Insect Industry Association, calls cockroaches "a bio-technological pathway for converting and processing kitchen waste."

Cockroaches are not just waste disposal agents but also prized for their protein content, making them an excellent feed for livestock. The demand for cockroaches extends beyond agriculture; in Sichuan, their extract is used in medicine and beauty products. The "essence of cockroach" is believed to cure ailments like peptic ulcers and even aid in beauty treatments.

As cities grapple with waste management issues, this bizarre yet effective method of recycling food scraps is gaining momentum, turning cockroaches into unsung environmental heroes.