A Vermicomposter for Urban Kitchens

Abstract

High moisture content of kitchen waste makes it unsustainable for it to be transported and incinerated. In comparison, composting at home is a much more sustainable option, upcycling waste into rich compost odourlessly. However, it is inaccessible for apartment dwellers in urban areas in the Netherlands due to space limitations. Vermicomposting is a version of the process using special compost worms that is more manageable indoors, but existing products do not fit kitchen use (where the waste is generated) in form or function, are difficult and messy to use, especially for new users. The HomeComposter is an all new vermicomposting system designed specifically for ‘Cosmopolitans’ and fulfils their wish to be less wasteful but in a convenient way. It holds composting worms safely and securely and can accommodate accommodate 250g of waste on a daily basis (national average for a household of two people). The worms stay in the top region to process incoming waste, while in a couple of weeks the vermicompost starts collecting near the bottom, ready to be ‘harvested’. When the bin is full, the unique ‘compost drawer’ can be pulled open and compost removed in a tray. The rear part of the drawer ensures that no compost falls from above during harvesting. This harvesting design is simple and tidy, unlike any other bin. Vermicomposting also produces a nutritious percolate which the sieve-like tray design guides to a glass bottle below. The bin comes with a ‘conditions’ monitor on top to give feedback to the user on how his new pets are doing. A transparent window in the front with compost behidn it emphases the natural process within.