Design of vermiculture systems for organic waste management

J. Nair; M. Anda; K. Mathew; G. Ho

Earthworms due to their peculiar feeding habits and habitats are commercially utilised in waste management, fish food and fish baits. They also have been proved to be versatile tools for the environmental monitoring and ecotoxicology. The garden earthworms are known to improve the soil quality and crop production, while certain species are ideal for commercial applications for waste management. Maintaining the system within the tolerance level of each commercial species is important for the successful operation of the vermicomposting or vermiculture systems. Domestic vermicomposting toilets can be used in National Parks (campsites), isolated roadhouses, farmhouses, and on peri-urban or semi-rural blocks under current legislation in Australia. Their use is ideal in places where disposal of effluent is difficult due to low soil infiltration, lack of availability of land, limited water resources, or in ecologically-sensitive areas. A greywater recycling system may still be needed where wet facilities are required. The mature vermicompost product is free of pathogens, ideal for the garden and results in a cycling of the nutrients. The domestic vermifiltration system can replace septic tank systems. This system avoids the need for periodic pumping of sludge as well as the need for two separate systems. Again vermicompost is produced for the garden and the treated effluent can be recycled on the garden by subsurface irrigation. Any system that requires disposal of effluent from septic tanks can use the vermifiltration method.The Vermitech sludge stabilisation process uses the same vermicomposting principles and can process successfully sewage sludge from municipal sewerage facilities as well as a range of other organic wastes. A design procedure for loading of organic matter has been developed and varfied with the present pracice of loading in the vermocompost treatment plant in Redland, Queensland Australia. If the loading is full of organic matter it is possible to load a maximum of 2 to 4 cm per day. Any thing more shall create an aerobic condition and the process will be difficult. It may be possible to take an average of 10 to 20cms per week.

Design of vermiculture systems for organic waste management

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