1

Vermicomposing at Queen’s University:

A Small Scale Initiative to Promote Sustainable Waste Management in
Residences

November 27, 2008

Aimee Brisebois
529 5643
5arb@queensu.ca

Chantal Horning
537 8890
5ch12@queensu.ca

Snaige Jogi
527 6924
5sj2@queensu.ca

Alison McKenzie
524 4831
4apm3@queensu.ca

Jamie Quan
529 5106
5jtq@queensu.ca

Word Count: 2384

 2

Abstract

The students of Queen’s University are in need of a personal connection with the

waste they produce. Vermicomposing has emerged as a powerful method of composting

that can be done on a small-scale level, allowing individuals to witness the breakdown

and renewal of nutrients of the food waste they produce. The primary objective of this

project is to implement a vermicomposting program in the residences at Queen’s

University. This project promotes micro waste management in residences, and by

extension the Queen’s community. The integration of various resources at Queen’s and

strategic planning initiatives are key to this project. By working closely with MCRC,

Jason Laker, the Sustainability office, as well as the vermicompost business “The Worm

Company,” a vermicomposing program is affordable and can be readily integrated into

the residences of Queen’s. The installation of vermicomposters on each floor of

residences will provide sustainable and social benefits to the Queen’s community.

Introduction

In order to create changes in student education, behaviour, and attitudes toward

environmental issues and initiatives, our group project is focused on the implementation

of a vermicomposting program in the residences at Queens University. The objective of

this program is to promote micro waste management in residences, and by extension the

Queen’s community. Vermicomposting promotes personal stewardship in terms of waste

management, and therefore we hope to plant this seed and have the vermicomposting

tradition continue in students’ upper years at Queen’s. Sustainability awareness,

education, and advocacy are key tools in getting the student population active and

involved in sustainability initiatives. This project presents students with a first-hand look
 3
at what a difference they can make on a personal level, which is a considerable step in

ensuring the continuance of sustainable initiatives and the desire to make a difference.

This paper will analyze the time, materials and budget required to organize this

initiative. Beginning with a brief background on the need for vermicomposting at

Queens, the paper will go on to explain the benefits of vermicomposting in residences. A

general timeline, budget, and funding ideas will be discussed as well as imitations and

possible solutions. The paper will prove that vermicomposting is an easy way to make a

positive environmental impact and is a promising biotechnology for many waste

management applications.

Waste is a part of life, whether generated as a by-product of agriculture, industry,

commercial, or domestic activities. Canada is among the highest waste producers in all

the industrialized countries. Environment Canada statistics from 1988 show that Canada

produced over 30 million tones of solid waste.

According to a Queen’s University Waste Audit for the 2006-2007 school period,

the university generated approximately 3 042 tonnes of waste. In 2005-2006, 72% of

waste generated was food waste. This indicates that the institution would benefit from

some form of composting to sustainably address the abundance of organic waste.

Composting can be divided into two forms: home composting and industrial composting.

Both methods involve the same biological process: the decomposition of biodegradable

organic material by bacteria, yeasts, fungi and worms.

A vermicompost involves the breakdown of organic matter by Red earthworms.

Most foods can be decomposed by the worms with the exception of meat, dairy, fats and

oils, and onion (See Appendix 3). Through decomposition, the worms benefit the soil by

improving its physical structure, enriching the soil, improving germination and allowing
 4
the reproduction of earthworms to further enlarge the scale of the compost (see

Appendix 1). Small scale vermicomposting is beneficial for kitchen waste, in areas where

space is limited, such as in first year residence common rooms.

Faster than traditional composting methods, a vermicompost requires less space

and creates little odour. The worms actually eat the bacteria that create bad odours. A bad

smell only indicates that the conditions (pH, fat content) are not right in the bin. Another

myth is the worry about worms “outgrowing” their bin, but this is not possible. If the

population gets too large, the worms will stop reproducing and their numbers will

decrease naturally according to the bin size and the food supply.

The Benefits of Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a sustainable initiative that can benefit student residence life

as a cohesive floor activity instilling stewardship, accountability, leadership, and

proactivity. While reducing the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills, it also

connects people to their waste by stimulating a better appreciation and understanding of

earth's life cycles. Vermicomposting is also relatively simple and easy to run, requiring

basic weekly commitments. Ultimately, dealing with one's own waste generates

individual responsibility that is essential in making positive sustainable changes.

In our project, the social benefits of vermicomposting are prolific. Because the

vermicomposters will be located in a shared space in residence, members of the floor will

be working together to maintain them. Communication among floor members is a

powerful aspect of this project. Gender, socioeconomic status, race, and faculty do not

play a role, as everyone must work together towards a common goal of maintaining

worm health. Responsibility and leadership can be adopted by any students interested in
 5
the project. Located in a shared space, the vermicomposters represent the use of space in

a respectful way.

In addition to these social and environmental benefits, vermicomposting in

residences is economically advantageous. The vermicompost facility, bins and other

materials would be one time purchases that should last for years on end (with proper

maintenance) and the worms are able to live and reproduce indefinitely as long as their

environments are well-managed. Moreover, the compost produced from worm castings

can be used by Queen's organisations and facilities (ex. GROOF, Physical Plant Services,

future campus community garden), thus saving expenses on commercial fertilizers. In

fact, vermicompost, as opposed to chemical fertilizers, is healthier and safer for the

environment and is proven to be just as effective in enhancing soil quality and

productivity.

Methods

We began with a literature review to explore the social, environmental, and

ecological benefits of the vermicompost method of waste disposal. The research

continued through contacting several people within the Queen’s and Kingston community

who would need to be involved in the implementation of this project. These contacts

helped us create the boundaries of our project and assess the practicality and feasibility of

such an endeavor. We also reviewed the successes and failures of waste disposal projects

at other institutions, specifically Sir Sanford Fleming College.

 6
Tentative Time Line and Potential Responsibilities

Week of:

• October 12- Individual research for literature review

o Snaige, meeting with MCRC

• October 20

o Meeting with Gerrie from The Worm Factory (vermicomposting logistics)

o Compile literature review

• October 26

o Work on progress report to present to class

• November

o Workshop: Present project proposal

• January – April

o coordinating the roles of various groups (i.e. MCRC, Gerrie) in preparation

for the summer and the following year of project implementation

o Application for various grants and bursaries

• May – August

o Preparation of worms and materials by Gerrie and MCRC will buy and

prepare all necessary materials as well as train dons

• September

o Start of vermicomposting and workshops run by Gerry in residences and

throughout the student community

o Adjustments and modifications may have to be made during the first year of

composting

o Residence don training

 7
• April 2010

o Full project review (assess longevity)

5 Year Projected Timeline

Regardless of the success or failure of the vermicomposts in residences, the

project will educate students on sustainable practices and instil waste consciousness. This

will be beneficial because the behavioural impacts of the proposed project will stimulate

a long term mind shift towards sustainability.

Budget

The budget for this project is minimal and consists mainly of one-time purchases.

This would allow for success in future years by reducing annual costs. The budget

includes the purchase of such materials and services as follows:

• Composting materials (Bucket and lid, hand bucket, limestone/calcium carbonate

powder, stirring sticks, worms, light)

• On campus workshops to promote awareness and training for residence dons

presented by The Worm Factory

• Summer upkeep and advertising to upper year students for worm-adopting

Funding

Potential funding opportunities for the vermicompost project are listed below:

• Queen’s University

- Main Campus Residence Council

- Sustainability Office

- Jason Laker

• Outside Sources

- TD Go Green Challenge
 8
- Subsidization by The Worm Factory

- Coca Cola Grant

- Ontario Government

A 300-word grant proposal for our vermicomposting project has been created to

apply for funding (See Appendix 2). Group members from the Green Beans plan to apply

for the Go Green TD Challenge with this grant proposal in hopes of eliminating the

monetary stress of implementing the project for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Potential Limitations and Subsequent Solutions

• Preparation of the worms prior to the school year

o Ideally, contract out the preparation of the worms and vermi-bins – Gerrie and

Ray from the Worm Factory.

o Prepare workshops for Dons and MCRC

• Interest Level and Dedication to the Project

o Dons will be strongly encouraged to participate

o Participation will be on a volunteer basis and if dons are not interested, a floor

member can be recruited to help out in the project (similar to the floor

sustainability representatives discussed by Aaron Myran).

• Worm monitoring throughout the year

o The vermicomposting bin will be located in the floor common rooms, or if

they are occupied by additional students the bin will be in the Don’s room.

o The workshop held during Don training will clarify that if properly

maintained, the bins will not smell so there is no detriment to having them in

their room
 9
o There will be a bin with a lid to collect the compost, and the Don or student

representative will be responsible for transferring and monitoring the contents

into the vermicomposter.

• Who will take care of the worms over the summer months?

o Key to this issue is advertising initiatives

o Upper year students staying for the summer are the main targets of homes for

the worms over the summer

o Not only does this solve the problem of keeping the worms alive, but it

promotes vermicomposting to upper year Queen’s students

o Advertising, booths, and posters can easily be set up, promoting the adoption

of worms over the summer (see attached poster).

o The important part of this advertising is emphasizing that the

vermicomposting system is free to anyone who adopts the worms

o At the end of the summer, the vermicomposters will be collected and brought

back to residences, and Gerrie’s contact information will be given to upper

year students if they express interest in buying a vermicomposter for their

house.

o Additionally, Gerrie has made it clear that although the situation is not

optimal, worms can be left an extended period of time and stay alive. If all of

the vermicomposters were not able to find homes in the student village, a

minimal amount of them could be left in residences over the summer.

• What is the fate of the soil produced by the worms?

o The soil produced by the worms is not a waste product. This top soil is high in

nutrients and an excellent resource to use in gardens

 10
o This soil would therefore be donated to Queen’s, as a way of giving back to

the Queen’s community

o Physical Plant Services, the Biosciences complex, and the proposed AMS

community garden would be recipients of this soil.

 11
LIST OF CONTACTS
*Personal phone numbers and e-mails are subject to change.

CONTACTS EXTERNAL TO QUEEN’S

The Worm Factory

874 Grady Road / Westport, ON / KOG 1XO
Phone: (613) 372-7595
E-mail: info@thewormfactory.ca
www.thewormfactory.ca

Gerrie Baker, co-owner of The Worm Factory

Since we have approached Gerrie as our potential supplier, she wanted to help us put
vermi-composting on Queen’s campus and will subsidize our program if it is
implemented.

Frost Residence, Fleming College

1 Auk Trail / P.O. Box 5500 / Lindsay, Ontario / K9V 6G6
Phone: (705) 878-9328 or (705) 878-9329
E-mail: Frost-Residence@gaia.flemingc.on.ca

Timothy Sullivan, Former director of vermi-composting initiative at Fleming College

While at Fleming College, Sullivan co-ordinated vermi-composting kit sales from The
Worm Factory and ran educational vermi-composting workshops for students. Currently,
Tim is employed by The Worm Factory and Cadbury.

Norma Jean Newbold, Residence Manager ’08: Vermi- composting Project at Frost
Campus
There are 10 vermi-composters on Fleming College that are run based on interest.
Presently, only 1 vermi-composter is active: the composter on Frost Campus. The Frost
Campus Residence houses about 190 students who are supplied with collection bins in
their suites and are encouraged to bring their compostable food down to the large bin. It
is managed by Norma Newbold and the school’s Maintenance Staff. As a vermi-
composter caretaker, Norma Newbold could provide experience-based insight and
guidance.
Phone: 1-705-878- 9329.

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS REFERENCES

Office of the Associate Vice-Principal & Dean of Student Affairs

Gordon Hall, Room 300 / 74 Union Street / Kingston, ON / K7L 3N6
Phone: 613-533-6944 / Fax: 613-533-6447
E-mail: avpdeans@queensu.ca
 12
Kelsey Jensen, Sustainability Coordinator ’08 of the Office of the Associate Vice
Principal & Dean of Student Affairs
E-mail: kelsey.jensen@queensu.ca
Phone: 613-533-3329

Main Campus Residents' Council

106C Victoria Hall / 75 Bader Lane / Kingston, ON / K7L 3N8
Phone: (613) 533-6216 or 36216 (internal)

Mark R. Ouseley, MCRC’s Sustainability Coordinator ‘08

Mark has informed us that the MCRC has an annual budget to fund projects and that our
vermi-composting project would have a good chance of receiving serious consideration.
E-mail: sc@mcrcweb.org

Mike Paramathasan, MCRC President ‘08

Mike has confirmed interest in environmental sustainability among dons this year, which
provides hope for the success of the near-future implementation of this project.
MCRC President E-mail: President@MCRCweb.org

Alma Mater Society (AMS) of Queen's University

John Deutsch University Centre / Kingston, ON / K7L 3N6
Phone: 613.533.3001 / Fax: 613.533.3002

Anna Tombs, AMS Sustainability Coordinator ‘08

In partnership with Science 44 Co-op housing, the AMS intends to buy a composter for
waste from AMS food run services: The Common Ground, Alfie’s, the Queen’s Pub.
AMS Sustainability Coordinator Phone: (613) 533-6000 ext. 75663

Physical Plant Services

Rideau Building / 207 Stuart Street / Kingston, ON / K7L 3N6
Phone: 613-533-6075 / Fax: 613-533-6469
PPS could be a potential investor of vermi-compost and of worms.
www.queensu.ca/pps/mainpg1.html

The Tea Room

Beamish-Munro Hall
The Tea Room runs their own personal vermi-composter.
www.tea-room.ca
 13
Appendix 1

Background Information

The Physiological Mechanisms of Vermicomposting Worms

The conditions in which the worms live are indicators of their decomposing

abilities. The worms used for vermicomposting, require a high nutrient environment and

live close to the surface of the soil; therefore conditions such as temperature, moisture,

pH and humidity are vital to their survival. The bedding used for the vermicomposter

must be moist. Moisture on the worms’ bodies allows transpiration to occur; oxygen

dissolves in the moisture on the worm’s body and from there can be absorbed into the

body and bloodstream. When it comes to food consumption, worms have no teeth, and

therefore require the aid of bacteria and fungi which act to break down food for them. In

addition, a crucial factor of worm digestion is utilizing gritty material (such as sand or

minerals) to grind in with the food. This action mixes the partially digested food with

fluids and grinds it into smaller particles. Finally, the undigested contents found in worm

manure contain many different types of bacteria, in addition to humus and other nutrients

that promote vegetation growth.

Case Studies of Vermicomposting

In the past there has been many successful implementations of vermicomposting

systems both on small and large scales. An example of a small-scale project would be the

implementation of vermicomposters into elementary school classes and a large-scale

project could be a vermicomposting system for a correctional facility. In South Carolina

for example, the Broad River Correctional Institution uses the Bin method of

vermicomposting (Sherman-Huntoon, 2000). This is where worms essentially live in a

box-like bin that contains different layers of bedding in which the worms live. This large
 14
scale vermicomposting system uses a bin 34-feet long by seven-feet wide by 20-inches

high, consumes 800-1000 pounds of shredded food scraps, and provides 1430- 2145

gallons of castings( worm processed food) 2-3 times a year. Most of these castings are

used around the prison grounds, but 15 pound bags are also sold for about ten dollars to

the public. Another successful implementation of a vermicomposting project is at the

University of Michigan. The university uses many smaller bins (six by eight feet) with

automatic heating and cooling to house over 50 000 red wiggler worms (The University

of Michigan, 2004). There are also many smaller scale projects that are based on

education. Groups, such as those who organize Waste Reduction Week in Canada,

initiate such projects. This year for example, a local resident of Westport travelled to

many schools in the Kingston area teaching about vermicomposting and helping set up

composting kits for the classroom (Waste Reduction Week Canada, 2008).

Appendix 2

Template for Grant Proposal

With the increasing population in today’s consumer-driven society, waste

diversion from landfills is becoming a pertinent issue. The closure and over-filling of

landfills all over Canada has led a mass movement of composting in many communities.

Queen’s University has the desire to promote sustainable waste management through

composting. Dining halls have already implemented large scale composting units and our

project aims to implement a smaller scale vermicomposting program in student

residences.

Vermicomposting involves the breakdown of organic matter by Red earthworms.

Most foods can be decomposed by the worms with the exception of meat, dairy, fats and
 15
oils, as well as onion. Through the decomposition, the worms increase soil quality by

improving its physical structure, improving germination, and allowing the reproduction

of the earthworms to further enlarge the efficiency of the compost. Small scale

vermicomposting is beneficial for kitchen waste and in areas where space is limited, such

as first year residence common rooms.

The pilot project begins with implementation in a single residence Victoria Hall.

This would first involve the purchasing of 25 vermicompost units (1 unit/floor) from The

Worm Factory in Westport, Ontario. This company has sold the boxes for $30 (public

price=$75) to a Sir Sanford Fleming College project and Queen’s University anticipates

similar education-based subsidization.

The soil created by the worms would be donated to Physical Plant Services to be

used on the gardens and flowerbeds on campus. In addition, some soil can be contributed

to the Biosciences Complex Greenhouse, as well as the proposed AMS community

garden. Residence dons would be in charge of daily maintenance and supervision of the

vermicompost during the school year. Dons would be in charge of regulating what food

goes into the compost. Meetings have been accomplished with the ResLife coordinators,

who sent out a newsletter to dons. In the planning stages of this project, students and

administrators have generated an overwhelming positive response to the initiative. With

increased investment in this project not only is the reduction of waste in residence an

easily accomplished goal, but this form of student stewardship will continue throughout

the Queen’s experience and into the future.

16