Submitted by Jacqui Wakefield (MNBP Waste Management and Diversion Committee) and Lisa Van Geem
(local experienced vermicomposter)
In the recent Bruce Peninsula Press article, Why and How to Compost at Home, a couple of alternatives to traditional backyard composting were mentioned as being particularly relevant for residents who are concerned that their composters may inadvertently attract bears or other critters. Several questions have been raised about these other methods, so this article will provide information about vermicomposters (worm culture bins), the green cone solar digester, and electric countertop composters.
All these options remove kitchen scraps from garbage and can reduce household waste by 25-40%!
Why Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting is a method of making compost by using worms. Worms feed on organic kitchen waste materials and then give out their waste in the form of “vermicasts” – which are rich in nitrates and minerals. These are a valuable fertilizer for plants.
In vermicomposting, a small shallow and dark bin with ventilation contains worms living in cool, moist bedding material. These worms eat kitchen scraps that are added to the bin weekly and generate castings (worm “poop”) within several months.
Food wastes that can be composted in a worm bin include vegetable and fruit scraps, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds and filters, and tea bags. As with backyard composters, avoid fats, meat, bones, fish and dairy products!
Although some people may think having worms in the house is “yucky”, remember that vermicomposting is happening all the time in nature. Worms and other microorganisms inhabit leaf litter, manure piles, and even more compacted soil several feet below ground – consuming organic matter, and turning that matter into something magical for plants.
Using worms to recycle organic waste is not new, but vermicomposting is a fantastic way to divert organic waste for a cleaner earth and a better way to grow our food. And it’s gaining momentum.
Vermicomposting Pros
-Does not attract Bears or other animals!
-Does not smell if you are feeding your worms correctly
-Vermicompost can become “finished” and ready to use faster (2-3 months) than traditional composting (often more than 6 months).
-Vermicompost itself helps seeds germinate faster, develop better roots and strengthen plants.
-The compost does not need any turning.
-Can be done indoors and stays active all year round!
Vermicomposting Cons
-Because you are working with living creatures, you need to take care of them by providing enough moist bedding, air, warmth and food.
-Vermicomposting isn’t expensive, but you do have to buy the worms and a bin to get started unless you want to make one yourself.
-Processes a smaller quantity of organic waste than a traditional composter unless you are running multiple worm farms.
How to get started?
Starting a new worm bin is easy and anyone can learn how to do it. Vermicomposting only requires a bin, bedding (shredded newspaper, shredded corrugated cardboard, peat moss, and/or partially decomposed leaves), some food (kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps), and yes, the worms.
There are many articles and YouTube videos available to guide you through the steps of vermicomposting at home. You can either purchase a ready-made worm bin (left) or build your own worm bin from a plastic or styrofoam tub or bucket (below left). The best worms for vermicomposting are red wigglers and redworms. These two species are good for the compost bin because they prefer a compost environment to plain soil—and they are very easy to keep. You won’t find red wigglers in garden soil, so it is best to buy them or find someone with an established worm farm who is willing to provide you the worms you need to get started.
If you make your own bin and get worms from a friend, the cost is only your time. If you purchase both a bin and the worms, it can cost between $50-$150 for the bin and about $40-50 for the worms.
Why a Green Cone solar digester?
This ingenious device has been produced in Ontario since 1988. More a digester than a composter, the double-walled cone uses heat from the sun and oxygen from the air to cycle humid air down to food scraps in the basket chamber below the soil – promoting the natural processes of digestion, decomposition, and dehydration. If located in a sunny spot with good drainage, the Green Cone can digest about one kilogram of kitchen waste every few days in the summer.
Solar Digester Pros
-Aerobic process produces little or no methane and reduces possible odours.
-Doesn’t need stirring or frequent emptying.
-Enclosed and secure, so generally critter-proof — especially against squirrels and raccoons.
-Delivers compost tea to surrounding soil and plants.
Solar Digester Cons
-Slows down in the winter, so households with a lot of food waste may need to use multiple Green Cones.
-Not “bear proof” – but have been used safely long-term in bear country. The trick seems to be to get the decomposition process/environment well established so the waste is covered with a mold blanket (unappealing to animals). Also helps if you limit or avoid the addition of “animal attractants” like meat or cheese scraps and foods cooked in oil.
While not in stock in local stores, a Green Cone can be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Compostec Canada. It costs $150-200 plus HST and shipping.
Why an electric countertop composter?
This easy alternative uses an electric composter that is about the size of a bread-making machine. Made by Food Cycle Science based in Ontario, the FoodCycler reduces kitchen food waste by up to 90 percent – transforming it into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Simply scrape kitchen and food scraps into the bucket, place the bucket in the composter, and turn on the power!
Food Cycler Pros:
-A great indoor alternative for areas where composting outdoors isn’t feasible or preferred.
-Can be used effectively year-round.
-Produces compost quickly – hours (usual cycle is 4-8 hrs) rather than weeks or months.
-“Because the FoodCylcer pulverizes and aerates the organic matter as it breaks down, those harmful methane gases are not released at all.” [The Manitoulin Expositor -April 6, 2022]
Food Cycler Cons:
-Machine can be expensive – as initial cost of buying the product is about $500.
-Also, ongoing costs for carbon filters.
-Energy needed to run the machine. Depending on your use, expect to add anywhere from 5-90 kilowatt hours per month to your energy bill (current Hydro One rate is about 10¢ per kWh)
Note: Food Cycle Science currently is willing to partner with municipalities to reduce costs. For example, Central Manitoulin’s pilot project (users will monitor and report their use over 12 weeks this summer) costs residents only $150 plus HST to obtain their unit. Anyone interested?
Special comments: As noted in the last Bruce Peninsula Press, MNBP Council has accepted the Climate Action Plan. One of the goals under Wipe Out Waste is a “50% reduction in household organic waste entering the landfill by 2030.” Composting at home is key to achieve this goal!
