6.5 Future Scope and Conclusion
Vermitechnology, i.e., vermicomposting and vermifiltration using earthworms, is
the advance and emerging technology used in the management of waste as earthworms can degrade the organic matter present in the waste and thereby convert this
into manure or useful by-products. From the discussion in the chapter, we can
conclude that the application of this technology can help convert the solid waste
into a nutrient-rich manure (vermicompost) from different types of solid waste and
also helps in purifying liquid waste or wastewater by removing the BOD, COD, and
total solids present in the polluted water in a cost-effective, hygienic, eco-friendly
manner and can solve the problem of solid waste and water scarcity in developing
countries. Many researchers have reported its importance in the management of solid
waste and wastewater only on laboratory-based analysis. It is necessary to apply this
state-of-the-art technology on a large-scale basis especially by the urban local bodies
(ULB), NGOs, and industrial units to solve the menace of MSW, domestic sewage,
and industrial effluents, rather than treating with current methods which are costly,
unhygienic, and less eco-friendly like incineration, landfilling, open dumping etc.
6.6 Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi,
for providing (DST-PURSE Fellowship under grant No. SR/PURSE Phase 2/18 (G))
and Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, for necessary laboratory facilities.
References
Aguilera ML (2003) 2003. Purification of wastewater by vermifiltration. Doctoral Thesis, University of Montpellier 2, France, p 188
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006a) Changes in microbial biomass and microbial activity of
pig slurry after the transit through the gut of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867).
Biol Fertil Soils 42(4):371–376
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006b) Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) activates
fungal growth, triggering cellulose decomposition during vermicomposting. Microb Ecol 52
(4):738
Arora S, Rajpal A, Kumar T, Bhargava R, Kazmi AA (2014) A comparative study for pathogen
removal using different filter media during vermifiltration. Water Sci Technol 70(6):996–1003
Atiyeh RM, Domínguez J, Subler S, Edwards CA (2000) Changes in biochemical properties of cow
manure during processing by earthworms (Eisenia andrei, Bouché) and the effects on seedling
growth. Pedobiologia 44(6):709–724
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) (2010) The new frontier in sustainability. In: The business
opportunity in tacking sustainable consumption. https://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_New_Fron
tier_Sustainability.pdf
6 Vermitechnology: A Sustainable Approach in the Management of Solid and Liquid. . .
101
Vermitechnology, i.e., vermicomposting and vermifiltration using earthworms, is
the advance and emerging technology used in the management of waste as earthworms can degrade the organic matter present in the waste and thereby convert this
into manure or useful by-products. From the discussion in the chapter, we can
conclude that the application of this technology can help convert the solid waste
into a nutrient-rich manure (vermicompost) from different types of solid waste and
also helps in purifying liquid waste or wastewater by removing the BOD, COD, and
total solids present in the polluted water in a cost-effective, hygienic, eco-friendly
manner and can solve the problem of solid waste and water scarcity in developing
countries. Many researchers have reported its importance in the management of solid
waste and wastewater only on laboratory-based analysis. It is necessary to apply this
state-of-the-art technology on a large-scale basis especially by the urban local bodies
(ULB), NGOs, and industrial units to solve the menace of MSW, domestic sewage,
and industrial effluents, rather than treating with current methods which are costly,
unhygienic, and less eco-friendly like incineration, landfilling, open dumping etc.
6.6 Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi,
for providing (DST-PURSE Fellowship under grant No. SR/PURSE Phase 2/18 (G))
and Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, for necessary laboratory facilities.
References
Aguilera ML (2003) 2003. Purification of wastewater by vermifiltration. Doctoral Thesis, University of Montpellier 2, France, p 188
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006a) Changes in microbial biomass and microbial activity of
pig slurry after the transit through the gut of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867).
Biol Fertil Soils 42(4):371–376
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006b) Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) activates
fungal growth, triggering cellulose decomposition during vermicomposting. Microb Ecol 52
(4):738
Arora S, Rajpal A, Kumar T, Bhargava R, Kazmi AA (2014) A comparative study for pathogen
removal using different filter media during vermifiltration. Water Sci Technol 70(6):996–1003
Atiyeh RM, Domínguez J, Subler S, Edwards CA (2000) Changes in biochemical properties of cow
manure during processing by earthworms (Eisenia andrei, Bouché) and the effects on seedling
growth. Pedobiologia 44(6):709–724
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) (2010) The new frontier in sustainability. In: The business
opportunity in tacking sustainable consumption. https://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_New_Fron
tier_Sustainability.pdf
6 Vermitechnology: A Sustainable Approach in the Management of Solid and Liquid. . .
101