Title: Potential and possibilities of vermicomposting in sustainable solid waste management: a review

Authors: Renuka Gupta, V.K. Garg

Addresses: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India

Abstract: Treatment of solid wastes using earthworms has been intensively investigated in recent years. Most of the agricultural, urban or industrial organic materials can be used for vermicomposting, ensuring that they do not contain toxic materials, which can harm the earthworms. The transformation of solid wastes into vermicompost is of double interest: a waste is converted into value-added product and it controls a pollutant that is a consequence of increasing population, urbanisation and intensive agriculture. This paper deals with the state of research on various aspects of vermicomposting process.

Keywords: earthworms; worms; solid waste management; vermicomposting; plant nutrients; C:N ratio; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2011.039465

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2011 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.210 - 234

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article