Pre-composting Food Wastes Using Biolant Beneficial Microorganisms

High protein food wastes like meat and dairy products produce heat that is fatal to earthworms. Oily foods, onion trimmings and citrus are also deadly to earthworms.

High protein materials must undergo a two-week thermophilic decomposition process before introduction into the bedding. This two-week thermophilic decomposition process is called pre-composting.

Pre-composting is simple. High protein materials are layered with high carbon materials and sprayed with compost accelerator, e.g. Biolant BM Concentrate*. The formula to be followed is 1 part high protein materials combined with 4 parts high carbon materials. Although less high carbon materials can be used, it should not be lower than 2 parts. Otherwise, strong odors may be produced by the pile.

Some materials high in carbon are dried tree leaves, coco coir dust and dried garden waste. When using dried tree leaves and garden waste, it is better to shred the materials first to facilitate decomposition. Shredding or chopping large kitchen waste is also preferable.

Pre-compost materials in a container like an earthen pot or rice sack for easier handling. At least two containers are needed for pre-composting. The size of the container depends on the waste generated from your kitchen.

I use two earthen pots of the same size. The pots are small enough to be filled in two weeks' time. The procedure for filling up the pots follows.

Put about two inches of shredded tree leaves at the bottom of the container. This is the first layer. Add your high protein wastes, oily foods, onion trimmings and citrus on top and spray with biolant solution (a compost accelerator). Add another layer of shredded leaves equivalent to the volume of the kitchen waste. Ensure that the leaves cover entirely the kitchen waste. Cover to prevent animals from disturbing the pot. Layer wastes and leaves daily until the pot is full.

Once the container is full, turn the materials completely making sure that the topmost and bottom layers end up in the middle of the pile. Spray with Biolant solution to maintain 40% to 60% moisture content for the entire pile. Add a thin layer of soil as the topmost layer. The pile will then heat up within 24 hours.

Allow the materials to decompose for two weeks, maintaining 40%-60% moisture content. If possible, completely turn the materials every three or four days. If not, turn the pile at least once. Always ensure that the topmost and bottom layers end up in the middle portion of the pile.

After two weeks, the volume of the materials should have been reduced by at least 20% and the temperature of the pile should have gone down. Reduction in volume indicates that the materials have undergone partial decomposition.

Spread out the materials to further lower the temperature of the pile and spray with chlorine-free water to reach 70%-90% moisture content.

The pre-composted materials can now be safely introduced to the worm bed. Spread out the materials thinly to prevent it from heating up further.

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*Biolant BM Concentrate has various uses. Some of its uses are organic deodorizer, soil conditioner, foliar spray for plants, compost accelerator and pond water treatment.

Since it is a liquid concentrate, Biolant BM should be diluted in chlorine-free water before use.

The minimum dilution rate recommended for odor control, soil conditioning, foliar spray and compost accelerator is 1 part Biolant BM Concentrate to 200 parts water. Use a fine mist sprayer OR sprinkler to apply solution.