Rajan Kale, 61 year old former Air India cabin crew made a trip to Umbergaon a couple of years ago and was disturbed to see villagers burning agricultural waste. The smoke was polluting the environment and he felt that there should be a better way of disposing the waste.

That is how he came upon the idea of vermicomposting. It is the process of disintegrating organic waste that creates compost. Vermicomposting is initiated with deep burrowing earthworms and aerobic bacteria which disintegrate the waste and transforms it into good manure.

Kale implemented vermicomposting  successfully in Umbergaon, but he didn't stop his good work. back in Mumbai, he suggested the idea of making compost out of kitchen waste to his neighbours. They supported him whole heartedly and Kale initiated the task of preparing a vermicomposting pit.

A 6x6 feet pit was constructed in the building compound and a few kilograms of earthworms were put into it. At the same time, the residents were urged to segregate their garbage into wet and dry waste. The residents complied and kitchen waste was dumped into the pit where it was converted into compost by the action of earthworms.

The compost was used to fertilize the  soil. However, to Kale's dismay, after some weeks, the earthworms died. That is when Kale resorted to the internet to gain as much information as possible about vermicomposting. He realised that the earthworms couldn't survive as the pit was too large and waste was too little.

Kale therefore constructed two new pits of 2x2 feet and took into consideration aspects like ventilation, temperature and other minute details.

The new pit was a big success. The society, on an average, got around 50kg - 60kg vermicompost in a month.

Kale mentions that the process is totally organic. Earthworms are voracious eaters and they multiply quickly. 100 kg of waste gives 10 kg of compost which can even be sold in the market.

The biggest advantage of vermicomposting is the reduction of waste. Earlier, municipal corporation truck would take four waste bins from the society, which after the vemicomposting project started, came down to two bins containing only dry waste. This leads to less waste in landfill sites and less air pollution. Besides, the manure is organic and will benefit the plants in the society's garden or can also be sold in market. Thus, recycled waste can be reused.

Therefore, the process of vermicomposting should be encouraged to be taken up in housing societies as it is extremely beneficial to the environment. As we know, handling waste at the residential and societal levels is the need of the hour.