When you recycle organic material, using worm waste isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. It may come as a surprise, however it is a form of recycling that is often utilized.

This is a common practice called vermicomposting.

According to the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition (IFSCC), vermicomposting, “operates at cooler temperatures than traditional composting and primarily relies on earthworms for aeration.”

Worms that are used to provide oxygen to the compost are, “red wiggler worms,” said Biology Professor Mary O’Sullivan.

They are used to provide air for the soil and increase its nutrient content using their fecal matter.

“What they produce are these things called castings. And the castings are rich in polysaccharides…Polysaccharides are going to help form humus in the soil, which is what makes really good earthly topsoil,” said O’Sullivan.

This would help build the structural and nutrient quality of the soil.

“They’re going to allow the soil to stick together and hold on to those rich nutrients that plants need to grow,” said O’Sullivan.

Worm castings also contain other nutrients and organic life that plants can benefit from.

These include, “Phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and the castings are also rich in microorganisms like beneficial soil bacteria and other microorganisms,” said Biology Professor Jennifer Maxwell.

Beneficial microorganisms also make it possible for red wiggler worms to consume, “25 to 35% of their body weight per day,” said Maxwell.

Compared to traditional composting, the process is different since the majority of it occurs inside the worm.

“The worm actually pushes out its mouth to grab the food and then pulls it back in…and then that food moves through the worm’s esophagus,” said Maxwell.

From the esophagus, the food gets processed through a few other organs.

“Then enters the crop and the gizzard… Which are the organs that will process that food,” said Maxwell.

Those two organs are the worm’s version of, “a human stomach,” Maxwell said.

After the food is processed, “They [red wiggler worms] expel the waste,” Maxwell said.

The final result is vermicompost, which contains different hormones that aid plant growth.

“So the vermicompost contains plant hormones that will help your seeds germinate faster, and your plants can grow bigger,” Maxwell said.

This acts as a natural fertilizer for different types of plants.

While there are similarities between fertilizers and vermicompost, they still differ.

“Vermicompost, is different in that it’s really rich in those soil microbes, or soil microorganisms, which can be beneficial for plant growth because of the plant growth hormones produced by them,” Maxwell said.

Regular fertilizers can have a negative impact on waterways compared to vermicompost.

“It can be really damaging to waterways, because it can affect the growth of algae in our waterways,” Maxwell said.

When there is excess fertilizer present in an ecosystem, “It can mess up the balance of that ecosystem,” Maxwell said. 

Vermicomposting can be done by one or more people in, “wood containers” as well as, “dark storage bins,” Maxwell said.

The process can start with adding a little bit of bedding to a bin.

“The best way to make bedding is to have newspaper or white paper or cardboard,” Maxwell said.

However, magazine paper should be avoided.

“Magazine paper wouldn’t be good because it’s kind of like glossy,” said Maxwell.

Eventually, organic material can be added.

“Food scraps from your kitchen, so like fruits, vegetables, tea bags,” as well as “coffee grounds,” Maxwell said.

Next time, when you see an earthworm, think of it as an organic recycling machine.