Commercial Vermicomposting Systems

1
Commercial Vermicomposting Systems

• Rhonda Sherman
• Biological Agricultural Engineering
• North Carolina State University

2
Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd.

• Albert Eggen, president
• 2328 Queen Street East
• Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4E 1G9
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail vermitech_at_globalserve.net
• Website www.globalserve.net/vermitech/

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
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

7
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 (lt 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)

8
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

9
Vermitechnology Unlimited

• Larry Martin, president
• P. O. Box 130
• Orange Lake, FL 32681
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail vermi_at_aol.com
• Website www.vermitechnology.com

10
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

11
Vermitechnology Unlimited

• Continuous flow system with casting extractor
• Attached to three-point hitch on 40HP tractor
• Extractor powered by hydraulic motor coupled to
  tractors 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

12
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

13
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 1/12th HP, 12 RPM motor for
  250-300

14
Worm World, Inc.

• Harry Windle, president
• 12425 NW C.R. 231
• Gainesville, FL 32609
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail windle_at_gnv.fdt.net
• Website http//gnv.fdt.net/windle/wormgin.htm

15
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

16
Worm World, Inc.

• Worm Gins 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

17
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

18
Worm World, Inc.

• Cost can build and install Gin for 15 per sq.
  ft. of bed, plus SH, 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

19
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

20
EPM Inc.

• Bruce Elliott, president
• P. O. Box 1295
• Cottage Grove, OR 97424
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Toll free 800/779-1709

21
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

22
EPM Inc.

• Worm Wigwam Model 5-6 cont.
• Uses 100 pounds of worms
• Daily castings output 45 lbs.
• Insulated worm bed R14 rated
• Electricity 110 Volt AC
• Two access clean out doors for castings
• Cost 5,495 incl. worms

23
Oregon Soil Corporation

• Dan Holcomb, president
• 1324 Beaver Lane
• Oregon City, OR 97045
• Phone [phone]
• Cell Phone [phone]
• E-mail oresoil_at_aol.com

24
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

25
Oregon Soil Corporation

• OSCR
• 3 ft. wide b, 4 ft. long, 3 ft. high
• 35 for construction drawings, operators 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