Steve Ross-Smith is the founder of the Worm Research Centre. He has a wealth
of environmental and farming experience having run an organic farm since 1986.
His many practical skills bring originality and efficiency to all the projects
undertaken here at the Centre. He is an innovative thinker and, recognising
the enormous gaps in information regarding small scale composting and vermiculture,
has been tackling the problem head on. Using his skills in engineering, design
and technology (HND Distinctions) many new ideas are now being researched
and developed to create workable solutions to the enormous organic waste stream
problems faced by small commercial businesses. Please contact us if you think
there is something we can help you with. The Centre are the North of England
key Compost Doctors working with CRN UK (Community Recycling Network UK) and
the CCN (Community Composting Network), to support businesses in improving
their environmental resource efficiency. See the relevant tab for more information
on how we can support you.
The WRC in Action :
Seagull Recycling Project
Growing Heap
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Welcome
The Worm Research Centre was initially set up to provide objective information
about the use of worms to the benefit of the environment, investigating their
scientific and technical performance. However, over the years considerable insight
has been gained into whole recycling arena with more and more people making
contact for information about any way their waste stream can be diverted to
meet the new legislative drivers.
The Centre is the Northern division of the the SME Compost Doctors programme
(compost doctors).
It was brought to our notice by various groups that smaller/light industrial
machinery, to aid the work of small composting sites and projects, was either
none existent or totally out of reach due to financial restraints. With this
in mind we have been working on design and technology specifically to address
this problem. WRC will work with you to provide bespoke equipment where necessary
or advise you as to what is available off the shelf. Scotty's HotBox was designed
in collaboration with Nicky Scott of Proper Job, Devon, who was looking for
a larger size compost box.
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The centre in action |
The centre in action |
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The Centre
Established in 1998, the Centre was developed from an organic farm in East
Yorkshire that was struggling to find answers as to how to make worms an efficient
workable farming prospect, as well as realising the potential of worm composting
as a waste stream option.
In an attempt to help improve the technical and commercial viability of vermicomposting
systems, a collaborative programme of research was developed, initially through
Urban Mines, with Scientific support from the Integrated Waste Systems (IWS)
Research Group at the Open University who have considerable experience of
large-scale composting and vermicomposting systems.
The interest generated by the Centre since that time has been beyond expectations.
The implications for use in the waste industry are becoming a serious concept.
Those at present undertaking vermicultural practices have never before had
access to such thorough scientific and practical advise with regard to information
that is available and to best practice techniques.
The research findings are world firsts and it is hoped that the benefits to
interested parties and the implications for the countryside will be phenomenal.
The intention of the Centre is to make this information readily available
by means of seminars, workshops and practical demonstrations. A major offshoot
of the work is the interest in other diversification where vermiculture is
not the answer. This is leading to the Centre widening its horizons and expertise
into all areas of the recycling of waste with more and more people making
contact for all their waste issues rather than composting specifics.
The findings of the Worm Research Centre are now being made available to all
interested parties in the environmental arena. At the same time as providing
information to waste management industries etc. other recycling issues are
being highlighted.
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