Trial of Household Waste Management by Vermicomposting

Household waste management has become a major challenge given its increasing quantities which generate environmental and health nuisances. This study reports on the vermicomposting of household waste as an ecological and sustainable waste management. In this experiment, Aporrectodea caliginosa and Aporrectodea rosea were used given their abundance in the Tunisian regions. The process was carried out in two stages, including pre-composting, and vermicomposting which is operated on a pilot scale. In total, 12 vermicomposting units filled with an adequate mixture (M) of household waste and green waste were set. After 45 days of the experiment, the physicochemical analyses showed a decrease in organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, potassium and electrical conductivity, but an increase in pH, dry matter content and nickel. The final C:N ratio of vermicomposts were 15.9 and 14.6 for treatments T2 and T3, respectively. We suggested that the earthworms have used nutritional elements for their metabolic needs. Indeed, endogeic earthworms such as A. caliginosa and A. rosea consume more mineral matter than epigics species which suggests that these earthworms are not suitable for vermicomposting.