Source: Xinhua
03-06-2009 13:52
Special Report: Tech MaxBEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Twenty families in Chunshu Community in Beijing have volunteered to feed earthworms with organic kitchen garbage and trade earthworms waste for organic vegetables.
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| Beijing families to keep earthworms for kitchen garbage recycling(File photo) |
"Under ideal conditions, one kilogram of earthworms can eat up to an equal weight of kitchen garbage per day and produce about half a kilogram of earthworm waste," said Han Baixing at the training class for the participating households.
The campaign to promote the biological method of decomposing garbage was introduced by Japanese teachers, who came to visit a neighborhood committee in Xicheng District of Beijing last April.
They made a "biological garbage box" for the local residents.
Filled with black earth, the garbage box is the dwelling place for hundreds of earthworms, which can digest and clean up cabbage stalks and apple nuts thrown into the box within five days.
Unlike ordinary earthworms, the earthworms here are bright red, with a length less than two or three centimeters, according to CuiXiangwen, director of the neighborhood committee.
To encourage the community to participate, the organizer of the campaign, the Environmental Education Center under the Global Village of Beijing, reached an agreement with a planting base for organic foods at Mentougou so that participants can trade earthworm waste for organic vegetables.
