WCC’s Recycle Operations Department recently harvested the campus worm pit. The video below explains the process.
One of the little-known facts about WCC is that it has a food waste management program that uses a process known as ‘vermicomposting’. Vermicomposting uses worms to convert food waste to a usable product (worm castings).
Food waste is collected daily across campus.
Many people and departments participate in this program including, Creative Dining located in the Student Center, Conference Services in the Morris Lawrence building, and WCC employees who have food waste caddies in their break rooms across campus.
The bed contains Red Wiggler earthworms (Eisenia Fetida). These worms reproduce quickly and can eat more than their own weight in food each day. They are able to survive well in a variety of climates. They really can eat just about anything organic, but like us, certain foods just don't agree with them therefore are best avoided. At WCC they are fed:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Coffee Grounds
- Tea Bags
- Egg Shells
The worm bed has been very active in the last 18 months and in April for Earth Day the Recycle Operations Department harvested it.
Once the worms have done their work and all the food waste has been converted to castings the material is removed from the bed, dried in the sun, and then put through a sifter. The sift separates the material into three grades, fine, medium, and coarse. It also separates the worms from the castings so they can be returned to the pit and restart the process.
The harvested castings were given to the WTMC Garden where they are used to enrich and enhance their growing medium.
This sustainability effort which combines both food waste management and the WTMC Garden is the culmination of cross departmental collaboration between food waste producers (both educational and commercial), Facilities Management’s Recycle Operation Department, and the educational outcome and food production in the WTMC Garden. It is truly a closed loop sustainable waste management initiative as well as an interdivisional project.
The Recycle Operations Department would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this project whether by separating their food waste from their trash, being directly involved, or being an end user.
Tags: Recycling, composting, reuse