Eumundi State School has been working with the Eumundi Markets and Worms Downunder in order to implement a waste disposal system utilizing worms. The essential aim of the Eumundi Markets is to reduce their carbon footprint through the reduction of compostable waste being sent to landfill. Each year the markets are sending approximately 27 tonnes of compostable waste to landfill – their aim is to significantly reduce this waste figure by utilizing various systems to compost it and return a beneficial product back to the environment.
The Eumundi Markets and Worms Downunder established four Grande systems (500 litres each) on site at Eumundi State School. A purpose built shelter was constructed to house the systems. Compostable waste is retrieved from the markets each Wednesday and Saturday and added to the system.
A critical part of the success of the system has been the initial support from Worms Downunder in setting the systems up and assisting the allocated staff in charge of managing the worm composting systems. Twelve months on and the four systems had proved their capability so well that the capacity was doubled to a total of 8 Grandes. With the expansion of the systems the school is beginning to gear up to process it’s own compostable waste on site.
Utilising the by products of the worm systems has been taken on by the student council at Eumundi State School. They have created a product called ‘Worm Wizz’. The microbe rich product is used to enhance the soil quality of the gardens. As casting levels continue to build these, as well as worms themselves will be marketed by the student council at the Eumundi Markets.
