South Africa combats climate change with ... earthworms

According to Mount Nelson Hotel, two earthworms within a year can produce 1 million children. (Photo: baocantho) A luxury hotel in South Africa is raising thousands of earthworms to ' consume ' tons of leftovers. It is the famous and oldest Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town.

Raised in specially designed containers, earthworms (red worms) will eat vegetables and leftovers from the hotel restaurant. Nutrient-rich earthworms are carefully harvested and applied to vegetable gardens around the hotel. According to environmental activist Mary Murphy, one of the initiators of the project, the earthworms are very eager to eat rotten food. Not only will the hotel avoid wasting food about 70% and prevent bad odors, they also neutralize harmful bacteria like E.Coli and produce beneficial bacteria while increasing the amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium in the soil .

Organic wastes in landfills when decomposing will release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and methane, which contribute to the global warming process. Earthworms prevent this process by " consuming " waste and turning it into stable organic matter. Mount Nelson hotel is expected to increase the capacity of treating earthworm farm waste to 100% in the next few months instead of the current 20%.

N.MINH