Global Worming

Environmental

Reduces waste going to landfill

In Australia well over half of the waste that is buried in landfills is organic. It is becoming increasingly expensive to dispose of waste in this way.

 

Reduces methane production and leachates

As organic waste breaks down in anaerobic conditions (like in landfill) it produces methane, a gas that is over 20 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Also in landfills leachate is produced from the liquid in organic waste and rainfall that passes through waste and the leachate can end up in the ground water system. Vermicomposting is an aerobic process that dramatically reduces methane and manages leachate in situ.

 

Recycles organic waste into a natural fertiliser and long term carbon sink

When organic waste is buried in landfills, the nutrients are lost. This seems bizarre given the reliance of Australian farmers on chemical fertilisers (largely a by-product of the petrochemical industry) and the very low carbon stores in Australian soils. Vermicomposting of organic waste produces vermicaste, a complete soil conditioner that greatly improves the structure of soil and is a long term carbon sink.