Solid Waste Management through Vermicomposting/Vermiculture :

SWM (Solid Waste Management) unfortunately in our country has received little attention resulting in insanitary conditions in most of our towns and cities. SWM involves duties connected with generation, collection, Storage, transportation and disposal or waste. From the point of view to safe guard Public health and also keeping a good and a healthy environment more attention is necessary towards the subject as there is a lack of awareness of civic duties among the vast majority of the people.

SWM or garbage management as it is called is a major problem anywhere in the world, and more in our country where increasing urbanization, cities are unable to cope up with garbage disposal problems. City corporations do lift quiet a sizable amount or waste but the system never works satisfactory, the reason being the quantum or waste generated versus the waste management facilities and trained staff.

Generally all types of wastes are thrown at a common place from where rag pickers collect useful wastes such as plastics, paper, glass, tin etc and rest of the waste which is now organic is scattered on the road side by animals and birds. This organic waste which is abundant can be handed safely and usefully by adopting Vermicomposting technology or Vermiculture technology. By adopting this technology i.e., WASTE MANAGEMENT THROUGH VERMI CULTURE, we can utilize the organic waste to keep our surroundings clean, pollution free, free from nuisance of flies, insects, mosquitoes and harmful animals and without waste bins.

WORKING WITH EARTH WORMS

As good science existed in ancient India, the Rishi’s handed down their monumental wisdom to their students in the traditional manner. One such Rishi – Rishi Prashar wrote a few thousand years ago that the earthworm’s a highly disorganized creature was man’s best friend. Even today school science talks of their friendship between man and Earthworms.

Earthworms eat our garbage and all Bio degradable wastes of various kinds which undergo complex biochemical changes in their intestines which are then excreted out in the form of granular casts of earthly smell which is nutrient rich organic fertilizer and a natural soil conditioner, an ideal food for the plants.

HOW IT WORKS

Wet waste/Organic waste is converted into a stable form by process of decomposition in presence of  air(Aerobic) in this for about two to three weeks the garbage is allowed to be decomposed in the decomposing pits where the micro organisms which are already present in the garbage helps the garbage to decompose. This process of half digestion can be hastened up by adding/spraying micro organisms, which are commercially available or with the help of cow dung slurry which is the best source.

During this stage the temperature goes high due to microbial activities but slowly comes down to normal temperature. Here destruction of some common pathogens and parasites takes place. The time taken for aerobic decomposition is 12-15 days and to keep the temperature under control and for proper supply of oxygen the mass or heap is to be turned once in 2 days at least.

Now comes the role of earth worms:

After 15 days of aerobic or natural decomposition the pre composted waste is shifted to vermicomposting  pits which is  of  size 1sq meter with depth of  about a feet (For easy monitoring) and now about 1000 earth worms[Species – Eudrilus Eugeniae also called as African night crawler] are released on the surface of the half digested waste. These earth worms start feeding on the waste and start converting them into compost [Earth worm’s excreta] which is in granular form of earthly smell which is a complete diet for plants. Total time taken for converting is about 15-20 days. To keep the temperature in control water is to be sprinkled over the mass at least once in 2-3 days and this also provides easy movements for the earth worms. Recommended moisture content is around 40%.

Hence the complete cycle form dumping of fresh garbage into the pre composting pit to final production of vermicompost takes approximately 35-40 days.

Prevention of direct sun light and excessive rain water entering the vermicomposting pits should be taken care and at the same time pits should be covered with mesh to keep rodents and animals entering them.

I feel that through vermicomposting we can manage our waste very effectively. It not only keeps our surroundings clean but also supplies good organic manure to our plants [All public parks should have one unit of Vermicomposting to convert their green waste into manure and this can be used for the plants]. As there is no shortage for waste and required man power I feel waste is no more a waste and this resourceful simple technology is of great importance for the present day waste management.

happy composting…………………….