An idea that is not risky, (edited) is unworthy of being called an idea at all. (Oscar Wilde)
W.O.R.M.S.
(WORMS OPERATING TO REDUCE MUNICIPAL SLUDGE)
W.O.R.M.S. was first incorporated as an L.L.C. in 2010. The Mission Statement, (below) answers the rest.
I am continuing the work of my Father-In-Law, Dr. Roy Hartenstein, PhD Professor, S.U.N.Y. College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University
who has published 69 Peer reviewed Science Journal Articles and received multiple Grants from the National Science Foundation for research on worms in 1979-1986. Dr. Hartenstein has traveled around the World to inform other countries with limited resources, or motivated by environmental stewardship, of Vermistabilizations many benefits to combat climate change/warming, utilizing a Waste, (biosolids) and converting it to a badly needed soil amendment, (worm castings), to reverse Greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion.
I believe the U.S. E.P.A.’s rules, regulations and testing requirements are archaic and need solutions to reflect today’s crisis of climate change. Soil erosion, diminishing landfill space, emissions of Green House Gasses, (methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) from wastewater treatment plants, (WWTP) are unnecessary and unacceptable.
The land application of malodorous, (Class B) pathogenic biosolids on farms, agricultural land, pastures, forests and for the reclamation of disturbed and polluted lands is emitting tons of Greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, causing warming of the planet, intensive storms, floods, drought, forest fires, soil erosion, pollution of drinking waters and streams.
Use of fossil fuels to thermophilically, (heat up) convert these hazardous pathogens to a "clean" Class A biosolid produces virtually no benefits to the soil, while using tremendous amounts of energy and creating Greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Additional fossil fuels are then used to dispose of partially treated biosolids, (Class B... pathogenic) either in landfills, land application, or incineration. Transporting these pathogenic biosolids to landfills or on to farmland where food crops are planted is not only costly, (Millions of $$), but is further compounded by the potential threat of malodorous, pathogenic material to humans, animals, and food crops later planted. Spreading pathogenic, malodorous biosolids on farmland continues to be questionable whether the process is "safe" considering the process is not adequately monitored, to meet strict requirements when dispursing these partially treated biosolids (10, 15). The costs to build, maintain and upgrade WWTP, (wastewater treatment plants) today is exhorbitant and unsustainable. The nation’s more than 16,000 wastewater treatment plants are functioning, on average, at 81% of their design capacities, while 15% have reached or exceeded it. The Global water and wastewater treatment equipment market was valued at $68.7 Billion in 2024 and projected to reach $87.7 Billion by 2029.
“Vermistabilization is the solution to pollution”. The E.P.A. has done little to educate itself of this cost effective, environmentally safe and friendly biochemical technology using redworms as a mechanism. They have continually rejected further research into using this technology at a time when questions still arise over the pathogenic pollutants spread on fields. (10) Their excuse: We don't understand how it's done. It meets requirements on smaller quantities, (tons), but can it be reliable when scaled up to handle thousands of tons of biosolids? Let's find out. Provide research funding in finding the solution. "You don't know what you don't know".
At this time, I am not selling anything other than the need to use the resources and knowledge already available to further advance a Revolutionary recycling method for disposal of organic wastes/biosolids, (non-thermophilically) as an alternative method to spending Billions of $$ and receiving nothing in return.
Turning a waste into a resource, (castings and worms) utilizing the redworm, the only animal on Earth that can make and rejuvenate soil. With 200 million tons of biosolids estimated to be generated Worldwide in 2025, the U.S. E.P.A. can’t ignore and delay this innovative technology for another 45 years.
Why are we not leading the World in Environmental Stewardship when the cost "not to" is so great?
The North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) estimates that, in a typical recent year, the U.S. uses or disposes of 5,823,000 dry metric tons of biosolids each year.
The U.S. should be a leader in Waste Disposal. Why not turn a Waste into a Resource?
Dr. Roy Hartenstein, PhD, Professor emeritus, Syracuse University. 9/89
MISSION STATEMENT
W.O.R.M.S. primary objective is advocating a "non-thermal Bio-chemical Technology", (non-heated) using “Vermistabilization” (VS) to stabilize and virtually eliminate pathogens and toxins from wastewater treatment plant biosolids/sludge. Using a mechanism, (Redworms), to convert a Waste (primarily biosolids/sludge) into a Resource, a rich, stable organic soil amendment, (vermicastings). Secondly, to obtain from the E.P.A., the right to scientifically prove, (through access to Wastewater treatment plant biosolids for research to initiate a “Proof of Concept” project) that these pathogenic biosolids when converted to worm castings meet the requirements of being classified as an E.P.A. Part 503 P.F.R.P. meeting Class A requirements that it can be used in any location, with no restrictions, as a organic soil or soil amendment, virtually free of any pathogens.
This revolutionary, “non-thermal” Vermistabilization (VS) process has been used by other countries in the World for decades as a cost effective, user friendly, environmentally beneficial and safe way to convert a waste into a valuable resource. Use of unrestricted castings/soil frees up landfill space, is odorless, and does not attract insects, flies or any other microorganisms. Plant roots from ornamental to agricultural thrive on soil with castings causing roots to germinate faster, healthier, less vulnerable to disease, more plentiful and more colorful, longer lasting plants due to the increase of organic matter in the soil, and aerobic environment, unlike chemical fertilizers that are costly and must be replenished depleting the soil’s longevity and emitting Greenhouse gasses.
Present forms of disposal including Incineration, thermal composting, landfilling, and spreading pathogenic biosolids on farming land are costly, (millions of $$), and provide little to no benefits, simply gaining one benefit at the expense of another; use increased energy at Wastewater treatment plants at exorbitant costs of equipment, technical training, and maintenance upgrades and repairs over an extended period of time.
These methods have 4 things in common:
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Exhorbitant start up costs: Millions of $$
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Provide no reusable resource: (Gases converted to energy are not reusable as there is no “net gain”.)
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Emit harmful Greenhouse Gasses into the atmosphere. (Methane, CO2, Nitrous oxide)
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Are unsustainable over the long term.
Go to the Links provided. Any Questions or Comments, click "contact".
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
The vermi (worm) castings provide a variety of environmental benefits that address several concerns related to the causes of climate change, including: emissions of GHG, (Greenhouse gasses) from soil disturbances, land development, plowing, chemical fertilizers, poor agricultural management practices, severe storms, drought, flooding, and soil erosion; all creating loss of soil carbon.
Castings are an alternative to pathogenic, malodorous, inadequately monitored biosolids stocked in piles on treatment plant sites, spread on fields, or placed in landfills... taking up badly needed space for other organic and inorganic wastes. GHG emissions, (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide) from these practices that create and dispose of biosolids, (and other organic wastes), significantly and needlessly add to the causes of Climate Change. The Vermistabilization Technology can drastically reduce these Greenhouse Gases.
The VS process also achieves two economic objectives: Saves $$, and provides a flow of income from the sale of castings, (a soil amendment) and worms; turning a Waste into a Resource.
Vermicastings alternative to chemical fertilizers reduces toxins leaching into lakes, rivers, and sewer drains. By converting a Waste into a Resource, it frees up Landfill space and reduces methane and carbon dioxide emissions, it reduces GHG emitted from Wastewater Treatment Plants, and it sequesters carbon and reduces the carbon dioxide released from soil disturbance. It eliminates odors and pathogens when spread on farm fields, and other land application. It prevents and lessens diseases to plants, creates more rich soil carbon for greater yields and healthier crops to farmers. It remediates polluted soils and frees up more space for planting crops. It extends the life of horticultural plants and landscaping projects. It lessens the costs of capital expenses for current methods of cleaning and disposal of biosolids, (i.e; WWTP, landfills, incineration, conversion of gas to energy, application of pathogenic biosolids to fields).
Creation of Class A biosolids through energy to create intensive heating of materials, (thermophilacally) returns virtually no benefits to the soil.
Most importantly, vermi (worm) composting, (using redworms for composting organic food waste), is becoming extremely popular due to the recognition it creates a valuable beneficial soil amendment, (castings) up to 4x faster than composting without worms. These casting contain a plethora of benefits to existing depleted soils due to the redworms ingestion, digestion and conversion of microorganisms to a nutrient rich, humic substance that adds soil carbon and stability to depleted soils. The vermicastings market industry is providing income from the sale of vermicompost and redworms, making it profitable for every household in America to recycle food and other organic wastes produced in their daily lives, (i.e; paper, cardboard, kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, garden waste and leaves), creating castings and redworms for later sale or using them for their garden, or indoor plants. No more chemical fertilizers.
With 5.8 MILLION DRY TONS of biosolids produced in America each year, now is the time to provide extensive research of “Vermistabilization” as a Revolutionary BIO-CHEMICAL approach to converting a Waste ("Biosolids")...using redworms, into a Resource, (vermicastings) while reducing GHG emissions in the process.