Commercial Vermicomposting Systems Rhonda Sherman Biological & Agricultural Engineering North Carolina State University Rhonda Sherman Biological & Agricultural

Commercial Vermicomposting

Systems

Commercial Vermicomposting

Systems

Rhonda Sherman

Biological & Agricultural Engineering

North Carolina State University

Rhonda Sherman

Biological & Agricultural Engineering

North Carolina State University

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd. Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd.

• Albert Eggen, president

• 2328 Queen Street East

• Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4E 1G9

• Phone: 416/693-1027

• Fax: 416/693-9744

• E-mail: [email protected]

• Website: www.globalserve.net/~vermitech/

• Albert Eggen, president

• 2328 Queen Street East

• Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4E 1G9

• Phone: 416/693-1027

• Fax: 416/693-9744


• Website: www.globalserve.net/~vermitech/


• Manufacture a series of Vermi-Organic Digesters that handle from 30 to 3,000 pounds per day

• Also manufacture shredders/mixers and harvesters

• Manufacture a series of Vermi-Organic Digesters that handle from 30 to 3,000 pounds per day

• Also manufacture shredders/mixers and harvesters


• 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

• 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

Original Vermitech Systems, Ltd.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

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


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

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


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 (< 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)

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 (< 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)


• 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

• 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

Vermitechnology UnlimitedVermitechnology Unlimited

• Larry Martin, president

• P. O. Box 130

• Orange Lake, FL 32681

• Phone: 352/591-1111

• Fax: 352/591-4550


• Website: www.vermitechnology.com

• Larry Martin, president

• P. O. Box 130

• Orange Lake, FL 32681

• Phone: 352/591-1111

• Fax: 352/591-4550


• Website: www.vermitechnology.com


• 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

• 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


• Continuous flow system with casting extractor

• Attached to three-point hitch on 40HP tractor

• Extractor powered by hydraulic motor coupled to tractor’s 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

• Continuous flow system with casting extractor

• Attached to three-point hitch on 40HP tractor

• Extractor powered by hydraulic motor coupled to tractor’s 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


• 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

• 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


• 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

• 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

Worm World, Inc.Worm World, Inc.

• Harry Windle, president

• 12425 NW C.R. 231

• Gainesville, FL 32609

• Phone: 352/485-1235

• Fax: 352/336-3680


• Website: http://gnv.fdt.net/~windle/wormgin.htm

• Harry Windle, president

• 12425 NW C.R. 231

• Gainesville, FL 32609

• Phone: 352/485-1235

• Fax: 352/336-3680


• Website: http://gnv.fdt.net/~windle/wormgin.htm

Worm World, Inc.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

• 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


• Worm Gin’s 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

• Worm Gin’s 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


• 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

• 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


• Cost: can build and install Gin for $15 per sq. ft. of bed, plus S&H, 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

• Cost: can build and install Gin for $15 per sq. ft. of bed, plus S&H, 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

Worm World, IncWorm 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

• 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

EPM Inc.EPM Inc.

• Bruce Elliott, president

• P. O. Box 1295

• Cottage Grove, OR 97424

• Phone: 541/895-5990

• Fax: 541/895-5991

• Toll free: 800/779-1709

• Bruce Elliott, president

• P. O. Box 1295

• Cottage Grove, OR 97424

• Phone: 541/895-5990

• Fax: 541/895-5991

• Toll free: 800/779-1709

EPM Inc.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

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

EPM Inc.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

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

Oregon Soil CorporationOregon Soil Corporation

• Dan Holcomb, president

• 1324 Beaver Lane

• Oregon City, OR 97045

• Phone: 503/557-9742

• Cell Phone: 503/260-8232


• Dan Holcomb, president

• 1324 Beaver Lane

• Oregon City, OR 97045

• Phone: 503/557-9742

• Cell Phone: 503/260-8232



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

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


OSCR

• 3 ft. wide b, 4 ft. long, 3 ft. high

• $35 for construction drawings, operator’s 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

OSCR

• 3 ft. wide b, 4 ft. long, 3 ft. high

• $35 for construction drawings, operator’s 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

Documents

Commercial Vermicomposting Systems Rhonda Sherman Biological & Agricultural Engineering North Carolina State University Rhonda Sherman Biological & Agricultural