Novel way to tackle waste shows there's big bucks in bugs

For many people, cockroaches are despised pests that trigger feelings of disgust - but for Li Yanrong, the insects are a source of income.

On a 1,800-square-meter plot 2 kilometers from Shawan village in Jinan, Shandong province, the 50-year-old businessman has built a facility to research ways of harnessing cockroaches.

"We spent six years doing research into using cockroaches after finding that they can feed on kitchen waste and create no pollutants," said Li, general manager of Qiaobin Agricultural Technology. Cockroaches are not just pests, but can be beneficial to society, Li added.