VERMICOMPOSTat the Northern Rockies Landfill

Join us on the road to sustainability!

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December 13, 2019

Composting with WormsWorms have always been hard at work breaking down organic materials and returning nutrients to the soils, so worm composting … or vermicomposting … or vermiculture, is a way to harness those efforts.

Worm composting is one method to recycle food scraps and other organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment called vermicompost. Worms work with fungi, bacteria and other invertebrates (aka “FBI agents”) to transform organic matter into usable worm “castings,” which improve soil structure, nutrient storage and availability, and water retention capability of soils.

This composting method is simple, effective and convenient. It saves water, energy, soil and landfill space.

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December 13, 2019

Why Vermicomposting?

“The Environmental Management Actmandates local governments to develop plans for the management of municipal solid waste and recyclable materials. Solid waste management planning is a proven way to reduce the amount of solid waste requiring disposal in a region, contributing to protection of the environment.”

– British Columbia Ministry of Environment: A Guide to Solid Waste Management Planning,

Version 1.0, September, 2016

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Why Vermicomposting?

• The NRRM Solid Waste Management Plan was approved by the Minister of Environment in 2018. The Plan provides clear direction on how to achieve solid waste goals, using management initiatives and waste diversion strategies specific to the NRRM and including a waste reduction target rate of 20% by 2020. Vermicomposting meets guiding principles by preventing organics and recyclables from going into the garbage wherever practical.

Solid Waste Management Plan Target:20% Solid Waste Reduction by 2020

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December 13, 2019

How it WorksRed wigglers (Eisenia fetida) are great at vermicomposting because they will stay at the soil surface if there is food available.

Accepted information was that they should be kept indoors, as it was thought that they would not survive below 32Fahrenheit or 0Celsius. Local contractor and business owner Wilf Hoath, who was hired to conduct the Vermicompost Trial Project in 2018, has successfully devised a method of overwintering the worms using recyclable cardboard and paper for insulation.

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How it Works

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Vermicompost Trial Project• Vermicompost Trial commenced August 9, 2017• Trial target weight of 70,000 kgs achieved September 2017• All organics were locally sourced (cardboard, paper, leaves, grass clippings, wood, food waste)• Trial expanded to accept organic drop-offs September 29, 2018• 70% of trial funded through Northern Development Initiative Trust

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December 13, 2019

Vermicompost Trial Project – Success!

• After the trial project worms demonstrated that they were able to survive the winter weather, an important final step was to test samples of worm castings for quality and contaminants.

• The results came back extremely positive and were approved for both agricultural and landscape use.“probably the highest quality

compost available in the

Province at the moment.”

- GHD, NRRM’s solid waste and compost consultants

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Benefits

Progress in meeting Solid Waste Management Plan, Community Energy Management Plan & Official Community Plan goals.

Positive environmental and social impact of organic waste diversion resulting in reduced volume of waste entering landfill.

The reduction in volume of waste landfilled extends the lifespan of the landfill, which provides economic benefit to the municipality.

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Benefits

Diverting organic waste from the landfill to a compost system has the potential to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Based on a projection that 48 Tonnes of food waste will be diverted, GHG Emissions will be reduced by 114 tonnes CO2 or equivalent of removing 25 motor vehicles/year.

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Benefits

Corresponding decrease in use of synthetic fertilizers application which are known to contribute to downstream pollution by leaching of excess nutrients into groundwater or surface water.

Vermicompost can be sold to generate revenue to offset the cost of organic waste collection, or used by the municipality for landscaping.

Vermicompost (aka worm castings), worm-worked material produced by earthworms, is a high quality soil conditioner and can be used a substitute to synthetic fertilizers.

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What to do with Organic Waste

• Collect your organic waste• Drop it off at the landfill transfer

station. • Tipping fees are waived for organic

waste-only drop offs

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At the Landfill

• Bins are labeled for each acceptable item

Grass & Leaves

Cardboard & Paper

Food Waste Wood

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At the Landfill

Yard Waste • grass clippings• Leaves• garden foliage

Grass & Leaves

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At the Landfill

Food Waste • vegetable scraps• coffee and tea grounds• meat including bones

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At the LandfillCardboard • Flattened• NO packing material

Paper• printer paper• newspaper • NO high gloss such as

magazines or photocopy wrapper

Cardboard & Paper

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At the Landfill

Wood• 3” diameter or less

unprocessed• NO treated, painted, etc.

Wood

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Worm Composting Facts

The worms are Red Wigglers (Eiseniafetida)

100 pounds of waste materials equals 7-15 pounds of worm castings

Each worm eats half of its body weight per day

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December 13, 2019

Worm Composting Facts

Worm composting takes half the time that regular composting

takes

Every 90 days the worm population

doubles

Estimated 8,000 lbs of worms in trial compost

+ 90 DAYS

Estimated 16,000 lbs of worms in trial

compost

112,000

kilograms

of organic materials composted to date

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December 13, 2019