Put the 'bio-bin' into practice

Biological waste bins use earthworms to treat dragon fruit garbage of the last three students Dao Y Kha, Cao Dang Khoa, Ton That Phu Tri (HCMC University of Architecture).

>>>Dragon fruit processing bin of architecture students

After a year of testing, products of young people have been put into use in Ham Thuan Bac and Binh Thuan districts.

This project won the first prize of Holcim Prize 2013 and was supported by the organizing committee with VND 200 million to test the topic in practice. As one of the earthworm raising models, bio-waste bins are completely new to both operation and service scale.

Student group Dao Y Kha, Cao Dang Khoa, and Ton That Phu Tri during a field trip in Ham Thang commune, Ham Thuan Bac district, Binh Thuan - (Picture of characters provided)

Through many experiments, research, the group has successfully implemented the model of 'organic waste treatment of earthworms' for dragon fruit stalks to minimize environmental pollution.

This model also helps to reduce agricultural costs, increase farmers' income with worm manure used to fertilize trees and worms after the crop is over, which will be sold as feed for livestock and poultry.

'Garbage from dragon fruit body is organic waste. Some people find ways to solve the dragon fruit garbage by composting, burying, but it is labor-intensive and does not get anything but letting the dragon fruit garden clean, so few people do this . Tri shared.

The group of students tried to use probiotics and rice husk ash, using black soldier fly, landfill method . but they were not effective. Finally, cinnamon worms are chosen because they are easy to do, good resolution. In addition to solving dragon fruit waste, it can increase income from earthworm business.

Biological garbage bins include two stacked trays and are permanently linked by the external frame system. Under each tray, there is a square mesh of zinc mesh so that the worms can easily move back and forth between the two trays.

Containers are 0.3m ^{3 of} organic waste, equivalent to 165kg of fresh waste, which can solve the volume of dragon fruit garbage of 40 trees per year.

Through the time of trial application at five households in Ham Thuan Bac district, farmers were very surprised with the results. Reasonable initial investment costs and simple operations make it easy for people to deploy in their home gardens.