ABSTRACT
IV Models of Enterprise ..................................................................................... 310 A Classic Earthworm Farm ........................................................................ 310 B Home Vermicomposting ......................................................................... 311 C Vermicomposting for Resource Recovery .............................................. 311
V Vermicomposts: Impacts of Technology ....................................................... 312 A Levels of Technology .............................................................................. 313 B Size and Scale of Processing Facility ..................................................... 313 C Technological Developments .................................................................. 315 D Economics of Vermicomposting ............................................................ 316
1 Capital Costs ..................................................................................... 316 2 Operating Costs ................................................................................ 317
VI Factors Affecting the Commercial Potential of Vermicomposting ............... 318 A On-Site or Off-Site Processing ............................................................... 319 B Location and Space ................................................................................. 319 C Climate .................................................................................................... 319 D Human Pathogens ................................................................................... 319 E Feedstock Loading Rates ........................................................................ 320
I INTRODUCTION
In the simplest terms, commercial potential is measured by pro¤tability and returns on investment. Evaluating the commercial potential of an entire industry (or of a biological method for waste conversion) depends on a generally favorable interplay of market opportunities, available technological capabilities, and the cost and availability of raw materials versus the potential value of the product added by labor and machines as well as marketing.
