Question 1

Why isn’t this process being used today in America?

Accepted Answer

Sadly, the E.P.A. and National Science Foundation have all but given up on this biochemical technology for biosolids disposal due to their decision to ignore it for the past 45 years.  Much has changed since 1979. While third world countries didn’t really have a choice, as they couldn’t afford the cost of more expensive technical wastewater treatment plant equipment and the trained workforce to run it, the U.S. has chosen paths that are unsustainable and relies too much on expensive, complicated technology.

In the long run it will cost Americans huge increases in their water and sewage treatment costs using other expensive climate change solutions..some that haven't been proven and will take years to be approved.  No real progress in the reduction of Greenhouse gasses has occurred, even while government agencies have been given Billions of $$ for researching new ways to find climate change solutions.
How long has this process of treating biosolids been in place? Vermistabilization was known in 1979.

Question 2

Who discovered this revolutionary approach to turning Waste into a Resource?

Accepted Answer

In 1979, Dr. Roy Hartenstein, PhD. began research with many grants issued by the National Science Foundation. His research and conclusions paved the way for vermicomposting today.   (9)

Question 3

Why is this the right time to reconsider adopting the Vermistabilization Process?

Accepted Answer

• Science proves it’s Safe, economical and environmentally sound.  (2, 3, 7, 8)
 • It’s sustainable over time. (Red Worms have survived the dinosaurs)
 • VS soil is marketable and in demand; so are worms.  (Economics Article)
 • VS is simplistic, inexpensive, great for climate change reasons, and will cause a revolutionary change in how we “recycle” our organic wastes “Non-Thermophilically”, (without heat). (10, 2)
 • It’s good for the Economy, the Environment, and creates Jobs.
 • It lessens the cost and dependence on chemicals that harm soils.  (4, 10)
 • It is needed with the World population increasing at 80 million/year.
 • It will save billions of dollars in waste disposal methods like Wastewater treatment, Incineration, Landfilling, land application and conversion of gas to Energy..
 • It will eliminate pathogenic, odorous) Class B soils spread on farm land
 • With no restrictions it will cost the E.P.A. loss of permit, dumping, monitoring, and other fees charged for Class B disposal..
 • It will reduce and or eliminate expensive transportation and dumping costs.
 • It will increase Farm income.
 • It will benefit nearly all Americans, not just a few.
 • It will increase soil carbon in soils and allow for sequestration of methane and carbon dioxide.
 • It will lessen leaching of toxic chemicals into streams, rivers, lakes and drinking waters.
 • It’s the next step from composting...vermicomposting...to Vermistabilization: A fully sustainable solution that treats biosolids as a "resource" not a waste.
 • THE TIME IS NOW!

Question 4

Why is the E.P.A. refusing to contribute resources to more research and testing?

Accepted Answer

• It’s all about the $$ and the “perceived” risk over benefits.
 • They don’t want to change the archaic rules and regulations
 • They will have to admit they should have done it sooner.
 • The huge waste and disposal companies will be unhappy.
 • It’s “perceived” to be labor intensive. (It’s not)
 • They haven't updated the Science over the last 45 years.
 • It will certainly change the Income they receive in permits, fees, and other charges for spreading Class B biosolids.
 • They won’t make it possible to invest in a “proof of concept” for scaling up the conversion process due to the immense costs necessary to meet their requirements.  (See Clive Edwards, Ocoee FL)
 • They won’t let researchers like myself have access to “hazardous” biosolids.  (They’re not hazardous).
 • The E.P.A. Pathogen Equivalency Committee, (P.E.C.) would have to make a huge decision and commit to a new technology. 
 • "Men and Women are only strong so long as they represent a strong idea; they become powerless when they oppose it" (Sigmund Freud)
 • If at first the idea is NOT absurd, then there is no hope for it. (A. Einstein)
 • New ideas pass through 3 periods: 1.  It can't be done  2. It probably can be done, but it's not worth doing  3.  I knew it was a good idea all along.  (Arthur C. Clarke)

Question 5

Have any other countries adopted this method of biosolids disposal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Yes. and Yes.  Many have been using VS for decades including:
Australia, India, New Zealand, Cuba, Mexico, Italy, Mumbai, Holland, England, Canada, Philippines, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, France, Israel, Russia, and others.

Question 6

How does the redworm change the chemical composition of the pathogenic biosolids and convert them into a harmless Class A soil amendment rich in soil carbon and plant nutrients?

Accepted Answer

The worms smell decomposing organic wastes when broken down into microorganisms, (their food).  They remove the odor, ingest and separate the good microorganisms from the bad microorganisms.  They seperate food they can be used by the worm, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids,(absorbable enzymes) and unabsorbable active enzymes, fulvic acids, humic acids, and humins are excreted in the castings as humic substances.  They then clean the pathogenic microbes/microorganisms, (any enteric viruses, salmonella, toxins, or helminth ova and metals).  They multiply the good microorganism 1,000x and their unique digestive enzymes and soil benevolent bacteria breaks down cellulose.  They secrete calcium carbonate and insoluble minerals are converted to a bio-available plant soluble form. The castings are surrounded by a peritrophic membrane to protect them from the pathogens.  This membrane also serves to protect them from their own castings once excreted.  Disturbance of the castings can cause the membrane to be ruptured sending the worms to locate a safer area.  The castings when dried have no edible microorganisms and will not have any vector attraction.  Only plant cells and plant walls can access the soluble forms or N,P,K and Su, (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Sulfur) within the castings. (See also Humic Substances).

Question 7

The difference between Composting, Vermicomposting, and Stabilization?

Accepted Answer

Composting breaks down organic waste over a long period of time, (3-4x longer) verses vermicomposting.  It can attract animals, insects, and other vermin.  As the compost pile builds up it increases in heat and becomes anaerobic  No worms have to be involved in the process. The composting piles must be turned periodically and is very labor intensive.  Lacking vermicastings composts are less beneficial to the soil and contain less of the nutrients available to the plants over time.   The benefits are less and the nutrients are less soluble. Heat and microorganisms and oxygen decompose the compost material.  It is an aerobic and thermophilic, (heat) process requiring up to 12 months or longer before use.  It should be turned occasionally to keep the pile oxygenated and increase microorganisms.

Vermicomposting is the absolute best way to benefit from the end result, (vermicastings) and to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions.  Organic material has to be added gradually or the worms will die from lack of oxygen and the heat build-up.  It can be done indoors or outdoors.  If outdoors it must be protected from birds, ants, and other vermin that want to feed on them.   Do you want more information on setting up a bin?  Send me your questions.

VermiStabilization is primarily referring to using redworms to stabilize and clean biosolids, converting them to a Class A, non-hazardous material, both for the Environment and the health of the public.  They devour the pathogenic and toxic microorganisms in the sludge, remove the odor, and use complicated enzymes in their digestive system to chelate metals and PCB's, (and PFAS?) rearranging the molecular complexes with different characteristics from their original metallic/mineral form.  (See "Humus")

Question 8

Why VS instead of Landfill, Incineration, Conversion to Energy, or applying Class B biosolids on fields?

Accepted Answer

The central idea of vermicomposting or vermistabilization is to not only manage the solid waste system by producing a resource from it, but also to save the environment from air and water pollution.  The other methods do neither and are more expensive to initiate.  Landfill is unsustainable due to lack of space and costs to build new landfills or transport material to old landfills.

Incineration is a Joke; still need landfill space, still pollute the air, uses a ton of energy and results in a useless benefit to the environment.

Conversion to energy is a no net gain proposal and very costly.

Spreading Class B biosolids on land/fields continues to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Question 9

How do you know when the biosolids are clean and harmless?

Accepted Answer

The worms will continue to remain in an area of biosolids until all microorganisms are devoured.  Additional food is then added to the top layer daily and the worms move up to eat it, leaving the clean biosolids behind.  Of course frequent testing is done to confirm the process is successful.  Any odors are gone and after drying castings are not edible by any microorganisms, (vector reduction) in the soil as there is no food in the castings, except for the nutrients readily absorbable by the plant roots and plant cells to make them adaptable to the changing environment.   Capturing castings on the bottom of the pile, weeks or months after they are produced ensures less loss of coccoons with new borns in them, giving them a chance to leave before harvesting.  Another way to know  is if the castings attract any animals, ants, flies, rodents, etc., they have not been left with the worms long enough for the worms to have ingested all the material.

Question 10

How do castings reduce the chances of erosion, dust storms, drought, and pollution of our waters and atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Climate Change, Population Growth and Deforestation create soil erosion and drought.  The continued loss of soil carbon, creating much less ability for the soil to absorb large amounts of water in severe storms.  Likewise, with droughts, soils without moisture, due to long periods without precipitation and less soil carbon will dry up, breakdown and become like sand to be blown away in a duststorm. Worm castings when added to soil, increase soil carbon, trap greenhouse gasses, (Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and Carbon Dioxide); provide aeration and porosity to soil, allowing roots to thrive, remain in soil due to their stability, add Humus for soil fertility, and recapture/remediate lost soil due to poor agricultural practice and soils degraded by chemical fertilizers. 
Only worms can make more soil with Humus to replace the lost soil carbon.  When soil is lost to our waters, so can be chemical fertilizers, polluting our waters.   With castings less soil is lost and with no chemicals to pollute the waters.  Only by “Vermistabilization” can we make a multi faceted attack on Greenhouse gasses lessening climate change leading to drought, air pollution, soil erosion, flooding, water pollution, and severe weather conditions.   It also provides an environmental option to more landfills needed to contain other organic wastes that worms can convert to castings.  Economically, it pays for itself with the sale of castings and worms, and the savings of energy and upkeep of older equipment.  It's a Win/Win for the Economy, the Environment, and the Crops needed to sustain a growing population with a shrinking availability of land.

Question 11

What are the primary problems in moving forward with the Vermistabilization Technology?

Accepted Answer

1. Funding and Research to answer the questions of why it can be done, should be done, and will be done with the courage of those who will bet on a Revolutionary Technology, take a calculated risk, and to act.
2. Obtaining a Soil Engineer, (for credibility), an Environmental Engineer, (for expertise) to design the most effecive and efficient process to move millions of tons of converted biosolids to areas that need it/want it/and see the value of using it.  (Funding and Research $$)
3. Believing in the Science that already exists claiming Vermistabilization to be safe, sensible, and achievable as the best way to lessen a multiple number of issues that can lessen global warming and climate change with an economically and environmentally friendly solution.
4. Encouraging the U.S. E.P.A. to be involved in discussions of "Waste Disposal" that includes solutions that make sense to all people, not just businesses who want to block change for their own benefit.
5. Educate the public why their water bills, sewer bills, electric bills, tax bills, waste disposal bills, are all rising at levels far exceeding the rate of inflation.
6. Educate public if they are composting, why aren't they vermicomposting?
7. Bring the idea of worms eating household kitchen waste by indoor vermicomposting.
           (Nearly 146 Million Tons Of Food End Up In 
            Landfills In The United States Each Year.  24 
            percent of municipal solid waste,  contributing 
            to more methane emissions than any other 
            landfilled materials.  (Greenhouse Gasses)

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