By using a "Vermistabilization" process to recycle the world’s sludge/biosolids, it may revolutionize the way in which many other types of organic waste are disposed of.

By using a Vermistabilization Process to recycle the world’s sludge/biosolids, it may revolutionize the way in which many other types of organic waste are disposed of.  The process is unique in its use of a “non-thermal” biochemical technology converting a waste, (sludge) into a resource, (worm castings).

Jerry Scholder

approx 1,000 redworms
1 pound of worms	Partially treated biosolids	Castings

A History of Organic Waste Disposal

Composting:  Usually done outdoors and done with a variety of organic wastes; landscaping trimmings, leaves, pine needles, mulch, food, cardboard, paper, etc.  Wastes are piled up and left for lengthy periods of time, mixed and turned to increase decomposition under thermal (heat) conditions, then used in gardening. A lot of time and labor is required. No worm castings are produced and takes many months to decompose.

Vermicomposting:  Similar to composting, but adding redworms, (vermi) to the compost pile and using the redworms to ingest the microorganisms created when materials decompose.  Not all foods can be added. The worms speed up the composting process significantly by increasing the microorganisms up to 1,000x ingested and leave a beneficial soil amendment behind called “Castings”.  A still relatively unknown term, but used outdoors, as with Composting or indoors (primarily with kitchen wastes in a covered container).  

Vermistabilization: (VS) is vermi, (worm) stabilization, (biosolids/sludge) with a specific organic waste from Wastewater Treatment Plants called “biosolids/sludge” using redworms to virtually eliminate pathogenic microorganisms to levels that are non-pathogenic and meet EPA 503 Class A requirements.  The “Vermistabilization Process” (VS) was discovered and implemented by Dr. Roy Hartenstein in the late 1970s, (9) and scientifically proven in the U.S.A. in 1997 by Dr. Clive Edwards in Ocoee, FL., (2, 16). It was put on hold by the EPA, not due to scientific findings but due to their inability to understand the methods of the mechanism used (redworm) and skepticism that it could be done consistently on a larger scaled up basis.

Vermistabilization Basics

Vermistabilization is a complex mechanical and biochemical transformation of sludge achieved through the action of "redworms". The worms act as an aerator, grinder, crusher, chemical degrader and a biological stimulator (Sinha et al.2002). Worms decompose the organic faction in the partially treated sewage sludge, mineralize the nutrients, ingest the heavy metals and devour the pathogens (bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa).  Essentially, they work as a ‘sludge digester.’  The worms ingest the microorganisms within the biosolids, disinfect and destroy virtually any pathogens, mix the various microbial components together creating castings, and then coat them with a glue-like material (humus) which glues the particles together.  Finally, this partially treated sludge is discharged as excreta (vermicast) which is rich in soluble forms of Nitrogen, Phosphorus Potassium and Calcium.

Applied to crops or plants at a 10 to15 percent mixture, (15% max) vermicasts increase plant growth up to 30 percent and root mass 150 percent. Numerous studies have confirmed that worm castings can also suppress many plant diseases through multiplying the ingested bacteria up to 1,000 times and separating the good vs bad bacteria excreting it as aerobic bacteria and crowding out existing anaerobic disease-creating bacteria, (Vineyards). The large percentage of humic substances contained in the vermicastings result in an increase in the percentage of soil carbon which provides the soil with excellent aeration, porosity, structure, drainage, and moisture holding capacity.  As an orgainic soil amendment, castings also provide nutrients available to plant roots in a easily absorbable, slowly released, extended period in maximum proportions of N.P.K. as needed.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Throughout the 1930s in America, agricultural plowing, together with the lost soil carbon from overuse of chemical fertilizers, increased CO2 emissions into the air by floods, fires, droughts, deforestation, intense storms and poor agricultural practices, all resulted in the formation of dustbowls from the western fringe of the Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean and all contributing to climate change and global warming.  Any reduction in soil carbon significantly increases the CO2 emissions from soil.  These areas of dry soil are again forming worldwide. Most recently is that which occurred in the wake of a sand-silt-clay-dust storm near Springfield IL on May 3, 2023 that caused a 72 car pile up and killed 7 people on Interstate 55. The reduced amounts of soil carbon and long term drought created these conditions. The current global average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is 421 ppm as of May 2022 (0.04%).  It is the highest recorded levels in at least 3 million years and it is warming up the planet. Burning fossil fuels is the main cause of these increased CO2 emissions and also one of the main causes of climate change.

A Natural Solution to Climate Change

In short, with Vermistabilization a previous pathogenic, malodorous waste, (sludge) is converted to a safe and valuable soil amendment that is rich in humic substance, organically, loaded with readily available NPK, and significantly reduces CO2 emissions from four major sources: pollutants in the air from the use of fossil fuels, wastewater treatment plants, landfills and soil.  This environmentally green solution also provides an alternative to the use of harmful chemicals in environmentally sensitive areas.  Over 8 million dry tons of biosolids are generated by over16,500 wastewater treatment plants in the U.S.   Loss of agriculturally productive land due to soil erosion, drought, floods, intense storms, chemical fertilizers, poor management practices and land development can be reversed. By remediating damaged soil from toxins and other pollutants and increasing productivity of existing agricultural soils, through a build up of soil carbon, vermistabilization of biosolids is the best solution to achieve these goals.  Worms are the only animal in the world that can produce a soil amendment with Humus. Vermistabilization could be one of the most important steps in reducing carbon emissions from a number of sources, while solving some of the greatest concerns of climate change; greenhouse gasses, soil erosion, limited landfill space, disposal of pathogenic biosolids, preventing toxins leaching into waters, increasing limited agricultural land for growing crops, saving energy, reducing air pollution, introducing low cost technology with income producing results, recycling of organic wastes, reversing climate warming, and remediation of toxic soils for later use.

THERMOPHILIC VS NON-THERMOPHILIC

Current practices to dispose of these biosolids include: landfilling, land application of malodorous, pathogenic biosolids, Incineration, gas to energy technology, expensive thermophillic methods or chemical treatment. All of these methods are seriously flawed in different ways. Landfilling of biosolids is unsustainable and environmentally irresponsible, reducing the space needed for other solid wastes and contributing to landfills being the largest anthropogenic emitters of greenhouse gas, (methane), CH4 in the U.S. Dewatering equipment and chemicals needed by Wastewater Treatment Facilities to process the biosolids for transportation, in addition to transportation and handling costs, permits, monitoring and landfill fees make costs prohibitive.  Land application of pathogenic Class B biosolids is also unsustainable due to its malodorous nature, placement restrictions, questionable hazards to human and animal health, and public concerns it is not safe or adequately monitored.  While land application permits have soared in the past few years, the EPA’s monitoring capability of these practices has been seriously depleted over the same period by financial cuts and reductions in staff.  Thermophillic methods and chemical treatments are extremely expensive, environmentally unsustainable and rarely result in a Class A material or something containing significant benefits to the soil. Many beneficial nutrients to the soil have been lost in the process.  In many cases these Class A biosolids are not marketable and it is difficult to give them away, (i.e., Incineration ash and its lack of value when spread on fields.)

MARKETABILITY

Vermicastings, on the other hand are extremely marketable—demand for a quality vermicasting product that sells for up to $7 per pound (“Worm Power”, located in Avon, N.Y.) is converting 10 million pounds of cow manure to generate 2.5 million pounds of fertilizer through the use of redworms in a "thermophilic process". The company has achieved 800 percent growth since 2010. Worm Castings are and can be used in farming, commercial and residential landscaping, the $6 billion botanical industry, potted plants, sod production, backyard gardens, vineyards, golf courses and soil remediation, to name just a few applications.

COST EFFECTIVE

Vermistabilization of sludge/biosolids can be incorporated with biosolids as low as 3 to 4 percent solids, eliminating or greatly reducing the need for belt presses, polymers, thermophilic equipment and lengthy composting times.  Costs associated with specialized equipment, chemicals, electricity, transportation and tipping fees, repairs, maintenance, upgrades are lessened and replaced with incoming revenues from the sale of a valuable commodity.  Most of all, the process is environmentally beneficial and safe when strict monitoring requirements are followed. VS requires very little in start up costs and uses low skill labor to operate and monitor the process.

MANAGEMENT 

The key to the success of “VS” over a long-term period in a large-scale operation is the Management and Quality Control of the process. Many factors and variables are closely monitored to ensure nearly every gram of soil is meeting Class A quality.  Knowing the proper ratio of worms to biosolids in a given space, the food source and quantity provided, environmental conditions of temperature, moisture, pH, chemicals used in the partial treatment process and the amount ot time required to convert the material gives assurance that the worms won’t suddenly die or fail to achieve the desired results. Knowledge of how much and what to feed the worms without the process becoming anaerobic, is already known.  Extensive research of the soil temperature, moisture content, PH level, feeding schedule, biosolids makeup and proper harvesting methods all play a part in the health of the worms, the safety of the end product and the consistent level of efficiency in converting the biosolids to a Class A quality. With the proper management, one acre of land can convert up to 22 tons of biosolids per day or 7,623 tons/year, while adding soil organic matter to existing land, reducing green house gasses, providing healthier, greater amounts of food crops, saving millions of $$, and adding up to $3 million in income on just 1 acre.

SUSTAINABILITY

Redworms eat up to their weight in biosolids each day and excrete castings 8x/day.  They become adults and are able to produce cocoons within 6 to 9 weeks of birth. Each worm, (each has male and female organs) is able to produce an average of three cocoons per week. It takes only three to four weeks for the cocoons to produce an average of three worms/cocoon.  Over a 6 month period, 5 worms can produce up to 8,000 progeny. The average life for a redworm is two to four years. Redworms are sold for up to $50/pound and there are approximately 800 to 1,000 redworms per pound. One ton of redworms requires approximately 2,000 sq ft. of living space and can convert up to 1.5 tons of biosolids per day depending upon indoor or outdoor conditions.  Castings are sold by the pound for up to $7/pound or $400/ton.  

WHY NOT IN THE U.S.?

Vermicomposting and Vermistabilization has been successfully used in many countries, including England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, the U.S., Cuba, Mexico, the Bahamas, China, Japan, the Philippines, India and other parts of Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Hawaii, and many countries in South America (Edwards 2004).  Many other types of organic materials are used for conversion to soil including paper, cardboard, kitchen waste, livestock manure, poultry litter, crop residues and yard waste to name just a few.

Previous attempts at certifying this biochemical, non-thermophilic technology in the U.S. have been rejected due to the E.P.A. Pathogen committee continued reluctance to provide the necessary biosolids, research and funding to explore the possibilities of this Revolutionary recycling of Organic Wastes. For previous endeavors that ultimately failed, they did so due to a lack of knowledge by the individuals in the management process.

"A concept, like an idea, is not responsible for the people who believe in it."

(Don Marquis)

Outdated and archaic regulations combined with the lack of understanding how Vermistabilization is achieved prevents any forward progress. Preventing researchers, like myself, to even access so called "hazardous" biosolids to transport off the wastewater treatment plant site prevents access for studies of PFAS and other contaminants.  Clearly, the importance of Vermistabilization and its beneficial qualities for providing solutions to many of today’s environmental concerns, deserves a greater place in research for disposing of organic waste while reversing climate change and greenhouse gasses.

Indoor Vermicomposting Facility

https://wasteadvantagemag.com/organics-converting-biosolids-to-organic-fertilizer-using-redworms/#:~:text=Vermistabilization%20is%20vermicomposting%20with%20a,EPA%20503%20Class%20A%20requirements.