VERMICOMPOSTING

Introduction

Vermiculture or vermicomposting is derived from the Latin term vermis,

meaning worms. Vermicompsting is essentially the consumption of
organic material by earthworms. This speeds up the process of
decomposition and provides a nutrient-rich end product, called
vermicompost, in the form of ‘worm castings’.

For centuries, earthworms have been used for centuries as a means of

decomposing wastes and improving soil structure. Increasing numbers
of businesses worldwide are successfully employing vermiculture
technology and marketing vermicompost as an excellent soil
conditioner, to farmers and gardeners. The breeding and propagation
of earthworms and the use of its castings has become an important
method of waste recycling throughout the world. It is common to use
earthworms on industrial scales to aerate, sanitise and deodorise types
of contaminated waste sludge. For instance, Japan imports millions of
tonnes of earthworms per annum for waste conversion. Worms are
odourless and free from disease. Vermiculture looks set to emerge as
a significant waste management technology.

Essentially, earthworms function as natural bioreactors. The technique

yields organic fertilisers, permits safe disposal of certain organic
wastes and reduces the requirement for landfill.

Vermicompsting can be conducted all year-round, providing

environmental conditions remain within acceptable limits. For increased
efficiency, care should be taken to ensure that organic feedstock and
conditions allow worms to reproduce successfully and to withstand
moisture and climatic fluctuations. Given suitable conditions,
vermicomposting appears to provide a relatively straightforward
solution to the management of compostable organic wastes.
Worm Species and Reproduction

Two species of red earthworms have consistently been used for

commercial composting or worm farming, due to their relatively high
tolerance of environmental variations:

a) Eisenia foetida The Red Wiggler;

b) Lumbricus rebellus The Red Worm.

Earthworms are hermaphroditic - that is, each worm is both male and
female and each can produce eggs and fertilise the eggs produced by
another worm. Under perfect conditions a mature breeder will produce
an egg capsule every 7 to 10 days, each containing over 1 dozen
hatchlings. Development takes 14-21 days and, once hatched, the
newly-emerged worms reach maturity in approximately four to six
weeks, meaning that the worm population may double each month.

In theory, 1 kilo of worms can increase to 1,000 kilos (approximately

one million worms) in a year. However, in working conditions 1 kilo may
produce a surplus of 10 kilos in one year, because hatchlings and
capsules (cocoons or eggs) are usually lost when the vermicompost is
harvested. This rapid breeding rate means the worm population easily
adjusts to environmental conditions, feed supply and the proportion of
worm casts to feed and bedding.

Population Controls

Three basic conditions control the size of a worm population:

1. Food availability
2 Space requirements
3. Fouling of their environment

When food and waste is regularly fed to worms in a limited space, the
worms and associated organisms break down this waste, absorbing
the nutrients they require and excreting the rest. As the worms
reproduce competition for the available food increases. The density of
the worms may exceed that favourable for cocoon production, resulting
in slower reproduction. In order to for worm populations to increase,
they must be provided with increasing amounts of food, space and
fresh bedding.

Additionally, all the worms excrete castings, which have been shown to
be toxic to members of their own species. As more of the bedding is
converted to castings, worms will migrate, if possible, to areas with a
higher proportion of feedstock and a lower proportion of casts. If
conditions deteriorate, worm’s numbers may drop.
This is an important consideration for municipal-scale composting, as
very large quantities of worms will need to be maintained, depending
on the quantity of organic waste arisings and desired rate of
throughput. As previously highlighted, worm populations may increase
rapidly from a relatively small initial number. Once the required number
of worms is present, they should be regarded as a valuable asset, and
viewed in terms of replacement costs. In order to maintain worm
numbers it may be necessary to harvest a slightly lower grade of
vermicompost, before the proportion of castings reaches toxic levels.
Worms separated from the casts are then used to expand the system.
Some authorities believe that, under ideal conditions, worms may live
as long as ten years.

Castings

When expelled, worm casts consist of granules, surrounded by a

mucus, which hardens upon exposure to air. When granular castings
are mixed into garden or houseplant soils there is a slow "time release"
of nutrients. However, the hardened particles of mucus do not readily
break down. Instead, they serve to break up soils, providing aeration
and improving drainage. Worm casts therefore provide an organic soil
conditioner as well as a natural fertiliser.
Nutrient Content

Vermicompost consists mostly of worm casts plus some decayed

organic matter. In ideal conditions worms may consume their own
weight of organic matter each day. One tonne of worms may therefore
process one tonne of organic waste per day. Vermicompost is organic,
non-burning and rich in nutrients. Worm casts are suitable for a wide
range of horticultural uses. Vermicompost contains eight times as
many microorganisms as their feed, which promotes healthy plant
growth.

When compared with soil, worm casts also contain:

5 times more nitrogen;

7 times more phosphorus;
1.5 times the calcium;
11 times more potassium;
3 times more exchangeable magnesium.

The casts are also rich in humic acids, which condition the soil, have a
perfect pH balance, and have plant growth factors similar to those
found in seaweed.
Bedding Materials

Earthworms require adequate temperature, moisture and ventilation.

Bedding retains moisture and provides a medium in which the worms
can work and in which waste organic material can be buried. It should
be light enough to allow air exchange and should not be packed down.
Worms actually consume bedding as well as kitchen vegetable wastes.
Bedding can be made of shredded newspaper, shredded corrugated
cardboard, peat moss, or leaf mould. Bedding must be dampened with
water before adding to the bin. Never use water from a water softener,
as the salt will kill the worms.

Suitable bedding materials include:

Shredded or mulched paper such as newspaper (non coloured)

cardboard
shredded fall leaves
chopped up straw
sawdust
dried grass clippings
peat moss
Fibrous garden matter such as cornhusks

The bedding material should be varied in order to provide a range of

nutrients for the earthworms and to produce richer compost.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for earthworms is between 55-77 degrees.

To remain active during winter, the system should be maintained at a
temperature above 10°C. The system should not be allowed to freeze.
In large-scale operations, temperatures at the centre of the
decomposing material should remain sufficiently high during winter
months to sustain the earthworm population without the need for
additional heat.

Sunlight

Earthworms have an aversion to bright lights. One hour's exposure to

ultraviolet rays from strong sunlight causes partial-to-complete
paralysis and several hours are fatal. A worm breathes when oxygen
from the air or water passes through its moist skin into the blood
capillaries. If the body covering dries up, the worm suffocates.
Environmental Factors

The three most important environmental factors are:

Temperature,
Moisture and
Ventilation.

All worms need moisture. The bedding should have moisture content
similar to a wrung-out sponge. Worms also need oxygen. It is important
to allow air to circulate around the bin by not covering the air holes.

Worm bins can be used indoors all year round, and outdoors during the
winter months. Outdoor bins should be kept out of the sun and rain.
The literature on vermicomposting suggests that if temperatures drop
below 10°C (50 degrees f), bins should be moved indoors.

Feedstocks

Red earthworms will eat most forms of kitchen vegetable or fruit waste,
in addition to tealeaves, tea bags, coffee grounds, paper and shredded
green garden waste. Materials to be avoided in significant quantities
include meats, dairy products, eggs, oily foods, salt and vinegar.

Red earthworms will eat their own weight every day. This weight
includes their bedding, so every kilo of worms or part thereof, may be
fed 50% to 100% of their combined weight in food or green waste.
Separation Techniques
Once vermicomposted, the volume of material will be much reduced,
possibly down to 10% of its original volume. The finished material will
brown and earthy-like, and the original bedding will no longer
recognisable. If only the worm casts are required as a fertiliser, any of
the following methods are appropriate. In order to separate and retain
worms as well as casts, the light separation method or a wire mesh
screen will be required. The methods described are best suited to
smaller-scale containerised systems or pilot operations designed to
breed initial worm populations. Once the system is expanded, it will be
necessary to use a commercial-scale mesh screener.

Light Separation
This method utilises worms’
sensitivity to light and tendency to
burrow beneath the surface in order
to escape light sources. The finished
material may be removed and
spread onto a surface or else left in-
situ, but should be exposed to a light
source. The worms will quickly
burrow downwards, allowing the
surface material to be removed. After repeating this operation, a thin
layer of material remains, containing all of the worms. This should be
added to the new bedding with a fresh supply of feed. This leaves a
harvest of worm castings and un-hatched capsules. These capsules
will be lost, as the hatchlings will not survive in garden soil, but the
remaining worms quickly replace them. The castings should be stored
for a week or two before use as a fertiliser.

Sideways Separation
The finished material is moved to one side, whilst fresh bedding mixed
with organic waste is placed alongside. During the following 7 to 14
days the worms will migrate from the finished vermicompost into the
fresh bedding. The advantage of this method is that it allows the
capsules to hatch in the meantime and most will also move across.
Vertical Separation
A nylon mesh screen slightly larger than the surface area of the
container is placed onto the surface of the vermicompost. The screen
should be large enough to flatten up the sides of the container overlap
at the top. The container is filled with fresh bedding on top of the
screen and fed with organic waste. The worms will migrate up through
the screen into the new bedding as the food source below is depleted.

When the upper part is ready for harvesting, the screen, and the
finished material containing the worms is lifted from the container. The
remaining material in the lower part of the container will have a very
high concentration of worm castings and few if any worms, hatchlings
or capsules. Once this is removed, the worm-filled material that was on
top of the screen is placed into the bottom of the container with fresh
bedding on top of the screen.

Gradual Transfer
This simple method produces castings, but no extra worms. Continue
feeding kitchen scraps into the container for up to four months. A
second container should be started and primed with fresh bedding and
a supply of worms from the first box. The first container continues until
the second is full, by which time the first container will contain a very
high proportion of fine castings, but very surviving few worms.
To ensure there are enough worms for both containers, the second can
be prepared about a month earlier, adding some worms to it every time
the first container is fed.

Screening
The vermicompost might require post-screening, especially if coarse
green waste was incorporated into the bedding, as this takes longer to
break down. This may be carried out manually on a pilot scale, but is
identical to the screening and separation operation carried out using a
commercial, rotating screener. The worms are separated effectively
from finished vermicompost, though capsules and hatchlings are lost.
Information regarding municipal-scale vermiculture is relatively scarce,
as the technique has more usually been employed on smaller scales,
or has been combined with the rearing of worms for the angling market.
In contrast to ‘unassisted’ windrow composting, vermiculture has
several distinct applications, with the potential to produce different
grades of end product, depending on volume or time constraints:

1. The complete processing of organic wastes to produce top-

grade vermicompost. This method produces the highest-grade
end product, in the form of worm casts. These typically contain
much higher concentrations of vital nutrients than standard
composted material. Worm casts tend to be used as a high
quality (and high value) soil conditioner within the horticultural
sector, rather than as bulk compost or plant bedding material.

2. The partial processing of organic material, in order to accelerate

the composting process or to provide a product of higher quality
than standard compost.

3. Elimination of nuisance odours associated with the decay of

organic matter, such as in forms of open air composting, which
do not employ sealed ‘in-vessel’ equipment.

4. The energy requirements of vermicomposting are very small

compared to the existing waste disposal systems and
processing costs are negligible.

5. The breeding of worms. Although this is not of primary

concern for a municipal composting installation, such a
facility would require very large numbers of worms in order
to operate satisfactorily. The maintenance and increase of
worm numbers is therefore necessary, in order to increase
initial worm numbers as the facility expands.
Continuous Flow Systems

The continuous flow system

was developed by Dr. Clive
Edwards at the Rothamstead
Agricultural Research
Station. These systems are
quickly gaining popularity
and have been adopted by
many mid-scale operations.
The efficiency savings
offered by their continuous
flow design increases with
the amount of material processed. This system design is now almost
ubiquitous in commercial mid to large-scale vermicomposting systems.
Each of these systems uses a relatively deep top-fed container, in
which the composting mass sits upon a raised floor made from a widely
spaced wire mesh. Worms are added to the system and food waste is
added gradually, layered with bedding material. The system is
continually fed until the bin is nearly full. The worms generally move
upward through the feedstock / bedding layers and vermicompost is
harvested from below by scraping or cutting a thin layer of finished
material from just above the grill using a rake or a manually or
hydraulically-operated blade.

Continuous flow systems offer several advantages to medium to large-

scale composting operations. They are relatively straightforward to
construct and operate. They are labour-efficient in terms of operation
and harvesting finished material. They avoid the need for expensive
equipment associated with technical ‘in-vessel’ systems and the turning
and screening of windrowed material. It should be noted that, despite
the recent and increasing interest in this design, windrows are still the
most common large-scale vermicomposting system in use. Continuous
flow vermicomposting designs are arguably the most efficient systems
available, in terms of time and labour savings. However, regardless of
efficiency or ease of operation, there is no design that eliminates the
need for careful monitoring and good system management, which may
require considerable initial experimentation and familiarisation.

Maintaining Continuous Flow

Continuous flow vermicomposting systems are becoming increasingly

popular. They provide an ongoing flow of vermicompost that is easily
removed from the system without disrupting the worm activity or
requiring complex or time-consuming harvesting methods. Because of
their operating efficiency, these system designs are becoming almost
as popular as windrows for large-scale applications. However, like all
vermicomposting systems, the continuous flow model poses several
challenges.

In order to simplify some of the technical terminology, the worms most

often used in vermicomposting are usually referred to as "surface
feeders." They are generally presumed to only be active at or just
below the surface. However, this is not always the case.

Earthworms are oxygen breathing, moisture-loving animals that require

organic material to be bacterially active before they eat it. In their
natural environment, this is usually top few inches of soil or surface
organic litter, such as leaves. In any system with a free flow of oxygen,
monitored moisture level and abundant supply of decomposing organic
material, earthworms may spread throughout the material unless the
system is carefully managed. Earthworms may therefore be found
anywhere within the continuous flow systems which meets their
requirements.

Feeding Rates

The precise loading rate (at which raw feedstock can be added to a
worm bed to encourage the worms to concentrate at or near the
surface) will vary depending on the feedstock being used, temperature,
moisture levels and the density of the worm population. Proper loading
rates require that new feedstock is not added until the majority of the
previously added feedstock has been decomposed.

Adding new feedstock too early means there can lead to a build-up of
unprocessed material within lower layers. There will therefore be
sufficient available food deeper within the container, instead of being
concentrated immediately below the surface. The worms will then
spread into all the available food areas. Worm movement in the lower
levels of a flow-through system often causes vermicompost to drop
through the mesh floor before it has been sufficiently decomposed.
Also, when the system is harvested, worms remaining low in the
material will fall through with the vermicompost and will either need to
be separated using labour-intensive screening methods, or will be lost
to the system.

Most operators of continuous flow systems find that frequent additions

of thin layers of feedstock (1"-2" deep spread across the surface)
produce the best results. Feedstock is sometimes mixed with bulking
agents like compost, shredded leaves, cardboard, paper or straw, or
covered with an equally thin layer of these materials. Paper products
are a preferred feedstock for earthworms, as they provide an easily
accessible and digestible form of carbon.
Excessive Heating

Another of the challenges to any vermicomposting system, irrespective

of size, is the potential for heating in the feedstock. Bacteria are the
primary decomposers of raw organic matter and in an oxygen rich
system, water, carbon dioxide and heat are produced as a result of
microbial activity. When raw material is added to the system,
particularly in large volumes, the mass can support the activity of
billions of bacteria. Bacterial activity can produce significant amounts of
heat, which may be trapped within the system. Even a small volume of
raw material can result in heating if it contains sufficient energy to
support high levels of bacterial activity. This potential for heating
complicates the assessment system loading rates.

It should be recognised that a worm bed may contain thousands of

different species of invertebrates and microorganisms, all of which play
a vital role within the vermiculture ecosystem. The loading rate cannot
therefore be based solely on the needs or capacity of a single
organism in that system. Bacterial activity may have as much impact as
the worm activity, as bacteria will have access to the feedstock first.
Overfeeding (in relation to the design capacity, the type of feedstock
and/or the level of system activity) may generate sufficient heat to deter
worm activity. Unless design modifications can be made, such as
installing fans to remove excess heat, the loading rate will need to be
decreased to a point where heating is not a problem, even if that
means feeding less material than the worms are capable of processing.

Pre-composting

Pre-composting the feedstock decreases the amount of energy

contained within the material, so that heating doesn't take occur within
the worm system. Feedstock which are pre-composted for 10-14 days
retain sufficient nutrition for the worms, but not so much energy that
they are able to generate heat.

One of the advantages to the continuous flow design is in the ease with
which a continuous supply of vermicompost can be removed from the
system. However, harvesting of the finished material should not begin
until the system is nearly full of material. Many operators have found
that, along with appropriate loading rates, a minimum depth of material
in the system of between 12"-18" will help to ensure that few, if any,
worms will be low in the bed and drop through, or fall out with the
harvested vermicompost. Once fully charged, vermicompost then
needs to be removed at a rate that maintains a relatively constant level
of material in the system.
Continuous Flow System: Oregon Soil Corporation

In 1991, Oregon Soil Corporation, built a vermicomposting ‘worm

reactor’, based on the continuous flow design developed by Dr. Clive
Edwards during the 1980s. The system was designed to process large
volumes of organic material and produce large volumes of
vermicompost under the management of a single operator.

Feedstock consists of screened food waste, which is mixed with

compost in order to absorb excess moisture and ensure good porosity,
then fed into the system the same day. The is housed in an unheated
greenhouse to protect it from the almost constant winter rains of the
Pacific Northwest. Temperature is maintained by the microbial activity
in the decomposing feedstock. Keeping large-scale systems cool
enough for worm activity was found to be more of a challenge than
keeping them warm, requiring that the system's loading rate is carefully
monitored to prevent overheating. Moisture content is monitored
closely and water added as necessary. As the feedstock is high in
moisture, varying volumes of compost are added to each load of
feedstock to balance the moisture level for optimum worm activity.

The worm reactor is a modular unit approximately 40" high and eight
feet wide, with a working bed depth of approximately 24". Due to it's
modular design it can be built to almost any length. The Oregon system
is 125 feet long with a surface area of 1000 square feet. The base is
constructed of wire mesh, to enable the finished vermicompost to fall
through. The system was initially set up with a layer of newspaper
above the mesh, which prevented the fresh material from falling
through. Finished vermicompost tends to hold together, even when
resting on the wide wire mesh, and does not readily fall through the
openings. The material needs to be disturbed to enable harvesting.

To enable one person to feed the system efficiently, it uses an

automated overhead gantry to deliver a consistent layer of feedstock to
the bedding surface. At peak operation the worm reactor can process
approximately 6000 pounds of organic material per day, feeding
approximately 6000-7000 pounds of worms. The worm reactor uses an
automated harvesting system to remove finished vermicompost from
beneath the table. A breaker bar dragged across the wire floor
dislodges a thin layer of vermicompost, which falls through the wide
mesh. A series of automated paddles are then engaged to scrape the
vermicompost from under the table so that the operator can shovel it
into a pile for drying. At peak operation Holcombe's system produces
approximately two to three tons (five to seven yards) of vermicompost
per day.
Vermitech 200

The Medical University of South Carolina uses a Vermitech system,

measuring 18' long by 7' wide, to process approximately 200 pounds of
cafeteria food waste each day. Instead of a lid, the system has a series
of curved bars spanning the width of the bin. When temperatures are
cool, these support a thick cover. The composting chamber consists of
two eight-foot sections. An air conditioner and hydraulic equipment
occupy the last two-foot section. A Vermitech shredder, with a
conveyor belt attached, delivers feedstock to the bin.

Feedstock is combined with cardboard, shredded and spread onto the

surface of the bedding. Every 2 or 4 weeks the hydraulic system
removes the bottom layer of castings, which are used by the grounds
department. The system has a payback time of three years.

For their newest system, MUSC constructed a foundation, consisting of

an 18' x 24' sloping concrete pad with a drain. The floor is coated with
acrylic so that castings can be cleaned up easily. The system also
incorporated electricity, water and fans to control airflow. Start-up
costs, including the building and supplies, were $54,000.

Vermitech 200 Feedstock

Initially MUSC used newspaper as a carbon-rich portion of their

feedstock, alternating between shredded newspaper and food waste,
then raking out the pile deposited in the bin. This sometimes left larger,
dry pieces of newspaper intact. They then used only shredded food
waste, which showed an improvement. However, excessive moisture
caused worms to migrate out of the system. It has been found that
cardboard works best as a carbon source. The system requires one
and a half hours of maintenance each day.

Christine von Kolnitz is the MUSC recycling coordinator. She may be

reached at Tel: 843-792-4066 or Fax 792-0251 or via email at:
[email protected].
Evolve Composting Ltd.

Evolve Composting operates a 60 acre vermicomposting site in

Newtown, Powys. The site has the capacity to process 60,000 tonnes
of material per year. Opportunities are being assessed to increase the
amount of material processed to 20,000 tonnes. The company breeds
worms for sale to the angling industry, in addition to producing high
grade soil conditioner , in the form of worm casts. This end product,
marketed as ‘Black Gold’, currently has a commercial value of
approximately £1 per kilo.

Waste material is piled into open windrows and also fed into covered,
ground-level beds. Depending on the mix and nature of incoming
waste, materials such as coarser, woody wastes may be composted in
windrows, as may not be suitable for vermicomposting, even after
mixing with other feedstocks.

Evolve Composting provides advice on vermicomposting and is

involved in the distribution of small-scale vermicomposting containers
to local schools and businesses. The company does not currently use
a containerised or continuous flow system in its on-site operation.
Material is fed into the ground-level worm beds until the composting
and feeding reaches the capacity of the beds. This may take many
months, after which the beds must be cleared out. The process is
labour-intensive, and involves the screening and separation techniques
described previously. A small revolving screener is currently employed
to separate the worms from the finished casts. These worms are then
sold to customers or used to re-stock the next composting beds.

The company currently receives green waste under an agreement with

the local authority and producers of green waste. It also receives other
feedstocks in the form of industrial waste products such as tea, and
receives paper waste from a local paper mill.

Overall, the process is simple, reliable and yields a product with

potentially high added value. Effective vermicomposting relies on a
suitable mix of feedstocks, not solely green garden wastes. The results
of the current waste analysis exercise may provide information on the
likely arisings of other suitable feedstocks. Evolve Composting is able
to advise on site requirements and is seeking partnership opportunities
to manage municipal vermicomposting operations.

Limitations to Vermiconposting

Pathogens

Food waste presents particular challenges to operators of composting

facilities. Research is ongoing to obtain definitive information on the
removal of pathogenic bacteria during vermicomposting. Pathogens
are eliminated at various temperatures. Whilst some may be reliably
eliminated at lower temperatures, the removal of others may require
temperatures too great to sustain earthworms. In contrast, some
sources claim that one of the great benefits of vermicomposting is that
disease pathogens are reliably eliminated within the worms' gut.

Mid-scale vermiculture systems are not the only options available for
the on-site management of waste organic materials. Whilst
vermiculture systems have significant potential for on-site application,
even with specialised management, they cannot effectively process
meat, seafood and dairy wastes.

This may have implications for local authorities charged with

meeting the Assembly’s future composting targets which, it is
suggested, will require the collection of domestic and commercial
kitchen waste.
Particle size reduction technology

The performance of on-site vermiculture- or composting-based

systems will increase significantly from size reduction of feedstocks
and blending with carbon-rich bulking agents. Shredding technology
that can process the size-range of green waste likely to be
encountered within a municipal context may prove cost prohibitive for
the majority of applications. (Costings: Ron Prosser, Cardiff Wood
Waste)
The literature suggests the possibility of the co-operative development
of very large-scale vermiculture operations.

Comparison: Vermiculture, Lime Stabilisation and Co-

Composting.

It is assumed that the operating costs are similar given the handling
and mixing requirements of three systems. Given equal operating
costs, very large-scale vermiculture has some distinct advantages:

• The process is odourless

• The end product vermicast is odourless, smelling like fresh soil.

• Vermicast has a high market value as a fertiliser or soil conditioner.

Green waste is converted into an enhanced, value-added product,
compared with standard compost.

• The market for the end product has not been saturated.

• Other organic wastes such as cardboard, vegetable dirty paper and

commercial food waste may be incorporated into the blend, subject
to regulatory guidance.

• Vermicast is easily transported. It can be bagged, or shipped in bulk

without affecting the product.

• The small quantity of leachate produced is easily contained, and

provides a valuable nutrient source to be re-fed into the system.

• A market may even be developed for using the worm leachate as a

liquid fertilizer.

• It is claimed that as the process is pollution free it can be installed

within the precinct of an existing treatment plant, or even in urban
areas, reducing the cost of transportation of sludge.
The Commercial Viability of Very Large Scale Vermiculture

Very large-scale vermiculture is a capital-intensive activity. On a stand-

alone basis, a facility the size of Redland provides an investment that
yields a superior return to most infrastructure projects. The rate of
return is determined by:

The initial capital investment.

The operating costs of the worm farm - reduced by technical

innovation.

The fee charged to the local council - governed by competitive

tender.

The return from the sale of the compost / wormcast fertiliser.

Reduced landfill requirements

Reduced purchases of topsoil for municipal parks or capping for

landfill sites.

The Recycled Organics Unit (New South Wales) estimates that

initial capital investment will be in the order of £1.0m – £1.1m for a
facility with the capacity to process 20,000 m³ of waste each year.

It should be noted that this estimate is subject to considerable

uncertainty, due to factors such as the effects of site variations upon
construction costs. To date, it has not been possible to establish a
reliable conversion rate between initial weight and expected volume for
the green waste delivered to Cardiff Wood Waste. The waste is
expected to reduce in volume by between 40% and 60%, once
shredded, and to possibly reduce in weight by a similar percentage,
due to gradual loss of its initial moisture content. This conversion factor
(0.4 to 0.60) equates reasonably well with data from the Recycled
Organics Unit, which estimates that an installation processing 20,000
m³ of waste will produce approximately 7,000 m³ of wormcast – a
(volume) conversion factor of 0.35. Based on the figures produced by
the Recycled Organics Unit, this volume of finished wormcast would be
expected to have a wholesale value of £600,000. However, this value
appears overly optimistic, and includes no detailed analysis of the
quality or consistency of vermicompost produced. UK market
conditions may also mean that a significantly different value might be
realised for the product in this country. Using a low weight conversion
factor of 10:1 for the weight of waste to end-product, 1,000 tonnes of
green waste would produce 100 tonnes of worm casts. Evolve
Composting currently realises approximately £1 per kilo for its bagged
worm casts, which are marketed under the name ‘Black Gold’. This
would give a potential value of £100,000. Although the poor current
development within the UK of markets for high value compost may be
seen as an opportunity, it should be re-emphasised that commercial
returns are very difficult to predict for compost products. Commercial
prices may decline with the widespread introduction of municipal-
scale composting.

Irrespective of commercial value, vermicomposting may provide a

viable method of dealing with a proportion of municipal scale waste.
The process meets, or exceeds all regulatory requirements, although
the Assembly has yet to specifically advise on a preferred option for
composting food waste, which may contain animal pathogens. The
vermicast end product is superior to other re-use products, providing
greater benefits, and hence value, to the agricultural consumer. The
literature suggests that a co-operative partnership may be required
between waste authorities considering the introduction of very large-
scale vermiculture, but that this can turn the cost of waste disposal into
a profit .

Composting Meat and Poultry Waste

The National Assembly for Wales does not yet sanction composting in
relation to waste meat products, due to concerns regarding the
limitations of composting methods to successfully eliminate pathogens.
Irrespective of public health concerns particular to the UK, composting
or vermicomposting does not appear to be a practicable solution to the
management of waste meat products: Research conducted by the
Recycled Organics Unit indicates that meat and poultry are difficult to
process in vermiculture systems. Trials using different feedstocks
showed that meat and poultry feedstock had to be significantly diluted
with cardboard in order to achieve even a low rate of processing, which
resulted in a build-up of non-processed feedstock (primarily
cardboard). Continued monitoring may therefore be required, in order
to ensure that households comply with the requirement to only include
non-cooked vegetable matter, as even a relatively small level of
contamination may reduce the efficiency of the system.
vermicomposting: Troubleshooting

When carried out correctly, vermicomposting does not produce

offensive odours or attract flies. The best approach is prevention, but if
smells occur, there are a number of possible causes and steps to
remedy the problem.

1. The system can start to smell if it becomes overloaded, as it will

contain more feedstock than the worms can process.

2. The bedding is too wet and compacted. Solution: (a) gently stir
the entire contents to allow more air in and stop adding food
waste for a week or so. Make sure that your food waste is still
buried. (b) The lid can be removed or left slightly ajar to allow
the contents to dry out.

3. The vermicompost has become too acidic. Solution: Add some

calcium carbonate and cut down on the amount of citrus peel
and other acidic food waste.

Flies and smells

Burying food waste just below the surface will discourage flies. Fruit
flies within the system do no harm, but large numbers are an indication
of overfeeding. The loading rate should be reduced and the surface
should be covered with a damp newspaper.

The bin can also have an influx of soldier fly maggots. These can be up
to an inch long, and are much larger than Vinegar fly larvae. The
maggots assist the composting process, but can be removed by mixing
in additional bedding and lime, as above. Alternatively, place bread
soaked in milk on the surface. After several days, it will become
infested with larvae and can be removed.

Stop feeding the worms, add more dry bedding, a small amount of
lime, and stir the bin with the hand cultivator (hand-fork). Repeat until
the smell diminishes.

Keep a tight lid on any container used to store waste before adding it to
the vermicomposter. This will prevent flies from laying eggs in the
scraps.
• General rule of thumb - 1 Kg of worms eats approx. 1/2 Kg of food
waste per day.

• Worm bins should not be exposed to extreme temperatures.

• Because of the presence of harmful pathogens in faeces, the

addition of pet wastes or biodegradable diapers to vermiculture
systems bins is not recommended, unless a dedicated unit is
specifically designed for such materials.

• Redworms are hermaphroditic, and will produce an egg capsule

every 14-21 days, each containing over 1 dozen hatchlings.

• Composting worms prefer cool, damp and dark conditions, and will
breed optimally when these conditions are maintained. They will
tolerate temperatures from 40 F to 80 F, but in northern climates
they should be brought inside when the temperature drops towards
freezing.

• You may use grass clippings, shredded cardboard or newspaper,

and coir (coconut husks) as a source of bedding for worm bins.
Certain inks and dyes may alter the pH levels within the system.

• A small quantity of pulverised dolomite (limestone) to help buffer the

pH towards worm-favourable neutral levels and away from acidic
conditions.