ISSN (Online) : 2319 - 8753 ISSN (Print) : 2347 - 6710 International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology An I SO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization Volume 3, Special Issue 4, March 2014 National Conference on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering (NCRACE-2013) During 15-16 November, 2013 Organized by Department of Civil Engineering, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Copyright to IJIRSET www.ijirset.com 207 JUVENILE HOME: A NOVEL TECHNIQUE IN VERMICOMPOSTING Kirki Ori 1 , Sunil Kumar 2 & Ajay Bharti 3 Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, NERIST, Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh 1 Senior Scientist, Solid Waste Management Division, CSIR-NEERI, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, India 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, NERIST, Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh 3 Abstract— In vermicomposting process, where the migration of worms is allowed from chamber to chamber or layer to layer, the adult worms move towards the new compost pile where the food is available. Large number of juvenile worms with eggs is left behind. The vermi cast left is toxic for the worms; hence the young worm dies out. Further, segregation of the eggs and the compost are done by sieving, but very thin silk thread like baby worms and eggs are also passes through the sieve. Sieving often causes injury to young worms and eggs. Therefore, to rescue the juvenile worms before they are finally send off for sieving and packing, a novel technique “Juvenile home” for the young worms has been introduced here. Key Words- Juvenile worm, Perforated aeration pipe, MSW, Earthworms I. INTRODUCTION As we know that the basic criteria for healthy growth of the worms are obtained by regulating Temperature, Moisture, ventilation and the food supply. Here after the mother worms had migrated towards the new waste, the juvenile home is inserted into the heap of the compost before it is sieve and pack. The juvenile home is nothing, but packed of waste suitable for the worms to stay. The home is placed at a distance of maximum 30 cm-40cm gap and kept for the period of two to three days in the compost. The juvenile worms automatically got accumulated in the home and the home is taken out and put into the new pile /chamber or layer. Due care is taken for optimum moisture and ventilation. It is done by immersing perforated pipe into the pile or by burying home inside the pile of Compost. FIG. 1 THE JUVENILE HOME II. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Municipal Solid Waste Solid waste – All the wastes other then liquid and excreta from garbage, trash, rubbish, or junk. It’s the stuff thrown from our homes, schools, offices, factories, malls, hospitals, among other things. This includes construction debris, bulky items such as appliances and furniture, waste from the market and farms, and special or hazardous waste from hospitals and factories. MSW- The MSWs are the waste generated from the municipal residential colony, market area, medical area, distribution centre etc. The MSW can create significant health problems and very unpleasant living environment problems. The waste provides breeding sites for flies, insects, snakes, rats etc. The waste also pollutes waters, air and lands.