Chapter 9
Vermicomposting Treatment of Fruit
and Vegetable Waste and the Effect
of the Addition of Excess Activated Sludge
Wenjiao Li, Sartaj Ahmad Bhat, Yongfen Wei, and Fusheng Li
Abstract Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) is generated in large quantities during
production, processing, and consumption. Several conventional methods are used
for treating the FVW, such as incineration, landfill, anaerobic digestion, and
composting. Compared to these methods, vermicomposting has the advantages of
effective stabilization of the organic wastes like FVW through joint action of
earthworms and microorganisms in decomposition of the easily decaying organic
constituents and of higher reuse value for its final product as organic fertilizer.
However, treating fresh FVW directly by vermicomposting is difficult to be
conducted because of higher water content and C/N ratio of FVW. Excess activated
sludge (EAS), as the main by-product of sewage treatment process, is also an organic
waste consisting of microorganisms that can be treated by vermicomposting.
Vermicomposting of fresh FVW with the addition of EAS is not only reported as
a feasible option to solve the problem caused by the higher water content and C/N
ratio of FVW but also can enhance the treatment process. The rich content of
microorganisms, nitrogen, and phosphorus in EAS can promote the growth of
earthworms and enhance the microbial activity, thus improving the decomposition
efficiency of FVW and improving the utilization value of the final product as
fertilizer. The present chapter summarizes the several conventional treatment
methods of FVW and proposes a more feasible and sustainable treatment method
of FVW by vermicomposting with the addition of EAS.
W. Li
Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
S. A. Bhat · Y. Wei
River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
F. Li (*)
Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
e-mail: lifs@gifu-u.ac.jp
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. A. Bhat et al. (eds.), Earthworm Assisted Remediation of Effluents and Wastes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4522-1_9
141
Vermicomposting Treatment of Fruit
and Vegetable Waste and the Effect
of the Addition of Excess Activated Sludge
Wenjiao Li, Sartaj Ahmad Bhat, Yongfen Wei, and Fusheng Li
Abstract Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) is generated in large quantities during
production, processing, and consumption. Several conventional methods are used
for treating the FVW, such as incineration, landfill, anaerobic digestion, and
composting. Compared to these methods, vermicomposting has the advantages of
effective stabilization of the organic wastes like FVW through joint action of
earthworms and microorganisms in decomposition of the easily decaying organic
constituents and of higher reuse value for its final product as organic fertilizer.
However, treating fresh FVW directly by vermicomposting is difficult to be
conducted because of higher water content and C/N ratio of FVW. Excess activated
sludge (EAS), as the main by-product of sewage treatment process, is also an organic
waste consisting of microorganisms that can be treated by vermicomposting.
Vermicomposting of fresh FVW with the addition of EAS is not only reported as
a feasible option to solve the problem caused by the higher water content and C/N
ratio of FVW but also can enhance the treatment process. The rich content of
microorganisms, nitrogen, and phosphorus in EAS can promote the growth of
earthworms and enhance the microbial activity, thus improving the decomposition
efficiency of FVW and improving the utilization value of the final product as
fertilizer. The present chapter summarizes the several conventional treatment
methods of FVW and proposes a more feasible and sustainable treatment method
of FVW by vermicomposting with the addition of EAS.
W. Li
Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
S. A. Bhat · Y. Wei
River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
F. Li (*)
Graduate School of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
e-mail: lifs@gifu-u.ac.jp
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. A. Bhat et al. (eds.), Earthworm Assisted Remediation of Effluents and Wastes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4522-1_9
141