A novel vermicomposting machine for rapid processing of phytomass and
other organic solid waste
Abstract
A novel machine, acronymed HEVSTOW (High Efficiency Vertically Stacked
vermicomposting system for Treating Organic Waste), of which a patent
has recently been granted, is described. The machine is based on the
paradigm of high-rate vermicomposting earlier developed by the authors.
It makes it possible to rapidly vermicompost not only animal manure but
also substrates like phytomass and paper waste which the conventional
vermireactors are not able to process without elaborate pre-treatment
and/or augmentation of animal manure. The machine also makes it possible
to simultaneously vermicompost different substrates as also use
different species of earthworms without one batch influencing the other.
The applicability of the machine is demonstrated by its application in
simultaneous yet independent processing of paper waste and a weed, each
with two species of earthworms.