Assessing the viability of vermicomposting in Lebanon on community level : Warhanieh case study -

Abstract

This study is a case study that aims to assess people’s perception and attitudes towards vermicomposting in Lebanon. For this purpose a direct field application of vermicomposting at household level was carried out in Warhanieh, a rural community in the Chouf region. Two vegetable crate boxes tied to each other were used to develop a small vermicomposting unit which allows for the lateral movement of worms from one container to the other. The unit is made of readily available and cheap material and it is practical in that it reduces the direct handling of worms. Briefly the first container is filled with bedding material (soil), worms, and kitchen waste and it is covered with cotton material. Once the waste is fully digested by the worms, bedding and kitchen waste are added to the second container causing the worms to migrate towards fresh food source. Thirty six households volunteered to test the experimental vermicomposting unit. In addition, a contingent valuation study was conducted involving 200 households to assess the attitude of village residents towards vermicomposting and towards home sorting of waste. Furthermore, the study assessed people’s willingness to pay additional tax to fund the construction and operation of a large scale vermicomposting facility at the municipality level. These findings revealed that participating residents were enthusiastic about their involvement but they preferred that vermicomposting of organic waste be managed at the municipality level. The setup of large scale vermicomposting systems did not prove financially feasible while small scale household units established in home gardens are beneficial.