Workshop on Vermicomposting

On July 26, 2023, the first-year students of the Department of B.Ed., Loreto College, Kolkata, attended an enlightening workshop on ‘Vermicomposting’ based on the theme of Sustainability and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE). The workshop aimed to raise awareness about sustainable practices and educate participants on incorporating these practices into their daily lives. The session was conducted by Ms Lata Bhatia, the founder of Green Legion, who has been actively working to promote sustainability since 2016.

During the workshop, Ms Bhatia shed light on India’s responsibility in waste generation and the measures that should be taken to reduce it. She emphasized the detrimental impact of polythene bags and straws, attributing 60% to 70% of waste to their usage. To tackle this issue, she encouraged participants to carry their own cloth bags while shopping and avoid using paper bags as well, considering the environmental impact of paper production.

The importance of waste segregation was a crucial topic discussed by the speaker. Mixing kitchen waste with other types of waste degrades its quality, hindering the recycling process. She recommended the segregation of dry and liquid waste into separate containers, highlighting the benefits of vermicomposting for recycling organic kitchen waste. The excreta produced by the worms during the process was presented as a nutritious resource that could be used as a natural fertilizer for plants.

Ms Bhatia made the students aware of the link between convenient but unsustainable practices (such as the indiscriminate use of plastic containers) and global warming, leading to natural calamities in India. She stressed that waste management is a critical aspect of environmental preservation and urged participants to be proactive in their daily lives.

As part of the interactive session, Ms Bhatia showcased live worms to the class, highlighting their role in consuming organic waste. She informed the students that worms can eat up to ten times their weight and prefer a balanced environment with neither too much moisture nor excessive dryness. The importance of avoiding acidic, spicy, or oily food waste was stressed as worms are sensitive to such elements.

During the session, the speaker provided guidance on dealing with common issues in aerobic composting, such as unpleasant smells. She advised participants to add more carbon-based materials such as dry leaves or paper to the compost to counter the odour and suggested sprinkling water in case of insufficient moisture.

Ms Bhatia’s insightful presentation on sustainability and waste management left a lasting impression on the attendees. The workshop successfully highlighted the significance of adopting sustainable practices in daily life and promoting environmental responsibility and awareness.