Commercial Vermicomposting Systems Rhonda Sherman Biological Agricultural Engineering

Commercial Vermicomposting Systems Rhonda Sherman Biological & Agricultural Engineering North Carolina State University

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. • • Albert Eggen, president 2328 Queen Street East Toronto, Ontario CANADA M 4 E 1 G 9 Phone: 416/693 -1027 Fax: 416/693 -9744 E-mail: vermitech@globalserve. net Website: www. globalserve. net/~vermitech/

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. • Manufacture a series of Vermi-Organic Digesters that handle from 30 to 3, 000 pounds per day • Also manufacture shredders/mixers and harvesters

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. • Vermi-organic digester is fed by mulching mixing processor • Can process any biodegradables including grains, manure, waxboard, grass, leaves, fruit, pasta, vegetables, office paper, cardboard, sludges – meats and fish from table scrapings may be used

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. V-500. 72 Series 450 -550 lbs. /day • Footprint - 518 sq. ft. (7 ft. wide, 74 ft. long, 5 ft. high w/ electrical panel, motors and hydraulic pack) • Electricity - 208 -230 Volts or 3 -phase. Av. cost per day is $1. 65 • Water - 16 -18 gals. per day maximum • Castings - 24 tons per year

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. V-500. 72 Series 450 -550 lbs. /day cont. • Temperature Control - thermostatic control with heat sensors to operate fan and air conditioning system • Life Expectancy - 10 -15 years • Operating Staff Time - 2. 75 to 3 hours/day • Optional - heating system for outdoor use; automated or manual misting systems; larger capacity by adding 8 ft. modules

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. V-500. 72 Series 450 -550 lbs. /day cont. • • • Vermi-Organic Digester (504 sq. ft. ) $78, 431 Shredder S-7. 5 (100 -200 lbs. /hour) $ 8, 088 Shredder S-10 (< 500 lbs. /hour) $11, 324 Digester w/shredder/blower S-7. 5 $81, 470 Digester w/shredded/blower S-10 $83, 529 Worms: recommended 1, 250 lbs. (not included in price)

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. • Harvesters: rotating screened cylinder starts at $2, 574 • Model S-10 Shredder can process up to 500 pounds of organics per hour using 10 horsepower motor • Organics are fed into shredder where they are chopped and mixed • Mixture is automatically expelled into digester

Vermitechnology Unlimited • • Larry Martin, president P. O. Box 130 Orange Lake, FL 32681 Phone: 352/591 -1111 Fax: 352/591 -4550 E-mail: vermi@aol. com Website: www. vermitechnology. com

Vermitechnology Unlimited • Manufactures worm bin with capacity of 100 to 150 lbs. of food waste per day • Unit is 34 feet by 7 feet by 20 inches – has center divider for ease of feeding and harvesting • Constructed of wood and insulated panels • Has screen on bottom to keep out moles • Cost $2, 000 for unit, installation, and 120 pounds of worms

Vermitechnology Unlimited • Continuous flow system with casting extractor • Attached to three-point hitch on 40 HP tractor • Extractor powered by hydraulic motor coupled to tractor’s existing hydraulic system • 16 ft. by 100 ft. unit with center divider which supports roof, misting system, and brackets for suspended sides • Sits on 4 -in. thick concrete slab

Vermitechnology Unlimited • This system will consume 2, 000 to 2, 500 lbs. of waste per day, depending on feedstock • Takes 30 minutes to remove 18 -20 cu. yds. of castings, every 2 to 4 weeks • Other equipment may be replaced by inmate labor • Blue prints available for construction

Vermitechnology Unlimited • Aluminum worm harvester - $2, 800 • Worm Grader - $40 for plans – may be made from PVC and plastic barrels for a hand-operated machine – can attach a 1/12 th HP, 12 RPM motor for $250 -$300

Worm World, Inc. • • Harry Windle, president 12425 NW C. R. 231 Gainesville, FL 32609 Phone: 352/485 -1235 Fax: 352/336 -3680 E-mail: windle@gnv. fdt. net Website: http: //gnv. fdt. net/~windle/wormgin. htm

Worm World, Inc. • Worm Gin has stacked series of conveyor belts for worm beds • Single module has two stacks, one to right and one to left with feeder down middle • Feedstock goes to hopper above feeder, by conveyor belt, then mechanically distributed evenly to worm beds • Each sq. ft. of bed processes 1 -3 lbs. /day • Takes seven days to process; recommend curing for 2 -3 weeks

Worm World, Inc. • Worm Gin’s beds turn slowly on rust-resistant bearings • Belts made of polypropylene that does not rot or corrode • A single bed can be removed without disassembling the whole module • System provides more aeration • Needs housing

Worm World, Inc. • Standard module is 14 beds high (18 feet tall with 28 beds of 50 sq. ft. each) • Electricity required: 5 cents/day/module • Constructed of plastics, stainless steel, aluminum, and some pressure-treated wood in non-food contact area • Needs to sit on concrete slab • Weight: ~6, 000 lbs. when loaded

Worm World, Inc. • Cost: can build and install Gin for $15 per sq. ft. of bed, plus S&H, travel expenses, and taxes • Additional costs: worms (need one pound per sq. ft. of bed), and material handling equipment to bring in feed and handle castings

Worm World, Inc • Worm Gin will soon be installed at a Florida correctional institution • Will handle food waste from one prison (290 inmates) and low grade mixed paper from two prisons (Sumter CI and Hernando CI) • Has one other installation in Maine

EPM Inc. • • • Bruce Elliott, president P. O. Box 1295 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Phone: 541/895 -5990 Fax: 541/895 -5991 Toll free: 800/779 -1709

EPM Inc. Worm Wigwam Model 5 -6 • • • Flow-through system processes 75 lbs. /day 5 ft. wide, 6 ft. long, 4 ft. high Footprint is 8 ft. by 8 ft. Steel frame with raised grate; insulated bed Grate has breaker bar on top to separate castings; operated by hand crank

EPM Inc. Worm Wigwam Model 5 -6 cont. • • • Uses 100 pounds of worms Daily castings output 45 lbs. Insulated worm bed R 14 rated Electricity: 110 Volt AC Two access clean out doors for castings Cost: $5, 495 incl. worms

Oregon Soil Corporation • • • Dan Holcomb, president 1324 Beaver Lane Oregon City, OR 97045 Phone: 503/557 -9742 Cell Phone: 503/260 -8232 E-mail: oresoil@aol. com

Oregon Soil Corporation • • • Continuous-Flow Reactor 8 ft. by 120 ft. processes 6, 000 lbs. per day $45, 000 plus cost of worms 15 -20 year life span Modular, so can be sized as needed 8 ft. by 8 ft. module could process 400 lbs. per day; cost $4, 000 -5, 000 Needs housing

Oregon Soil Corporation • • • OSCR 3 ft. wide b, 4 ft. long, 3 ft. high $35 for construction drawings, operator’s guide, operation plan, and parts list Build from plywood and screws Plans include directions to make harvesting screen and audit box Processes 30 pounds per day 15 boxes handle 500 ppd for $2, 000 + worms