Vermicomposting: A Dirty Solution to Coastal Carolina’s Waste Problem Taylor Snook English 290 November 15, 2011

Presentation Outline Problem Vermicomposting The Worm Factory Potential Annual Profit The Value of Worm Tea Recommendation References Thank You

Problem Landfills 250 million tons of garbage per year Surface and groundwater contamination Climate change 250 million tons of garbage per year 70% can be composted

Vermicomposting Economic benefits Environmental benefits Save on weekly trash pick-up Profit off of compost/worm tea Environmental benefits Leachate Methane gas

The Worm Factory

Potential Annual Profit Product Units per Day (1 pound of compost makes 10 gallons of worm tea) Price Total Profit per Day  Units per day X price Total Profit per Year  Daily profit X 365 days per year Total Profit per Year When Selling Each Product Every Other Day  Yearly profit / 2 Total Combined Profit per Year  $657,000 + $109,500,000 Compost 2,400 pounds $1.50/pound $3,600 $1,314,000 $657,000 Worm Tea 24,000 gallons $25/gallon $600,000 $219,000,000 $109,500,000 $110,157,000

The Value of Worm Tea

Recommendation Implement a vermicomposting system on campus

References Binghamton University. (2011). About binghamton university. Retrieved from http://www.binghamton.edu/about/index.html Binghamton University. (2010). Composting. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/binghamton.edu/sustainable- binghamtom-university/home/project-pages/food/Composting Firth, M. (2010, May/June). Let worms eat your garbage. Natural Life Magazine, 28-31. Milton, R. C. (2009, July). Worm castings- Properties, benefits and other important things behind the process. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Worm-­Castings-­-­-­ Properties,-­Benefits-­and-­Other-­Important-­Things-­Behind-­the-­ Process&id=2609518

References Cont. Nature’s Big Bud Worm Castings. (n.d.). 1 gal nature’s big bud liquid worm castings organic plant food/fertilizer. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/NATURES-LIQUID-CASTINGS- ORGANIC-fertilizer/dp/B000U28MW6/ref=sr_1_1?s=home- garden&ie=UTF8&Qid=1320871410&sr=1-1 Nature’s Solution. (n.d.). Nature’s solution worm castings 20 lb. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Solution- Worm-Castings- 20/dp/B004RAHJ8K/ref=sr_1_1?s=garden&Ie=UTF8&qid=13 20870966&sr=1-1

References Cont. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2010, March). Garbage 101. Retrieved from http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recy cle/pubs/garbage_101.pdf Welcome to worm factory worm far worm bin composting. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wormfactory.us/ Wigglers Ranch. (n.d.). Worm tea recipes. Retrieved from http://www.wigglersranch.com/shop/ custom.aspx?recid=9

Thank You