Vermicomposting as a Campus Enterprise

This student research project applies an operational research framework to a proposed continuous flow-through (CFT) vermicomposting system at the NAU Research Greenhouse Complex. Brooke Lercher and Ailse Soto Herrera will serve as co-Vermicompost Managers and researchers, systematically developing, testing, and refining the workflows, data collection protocols, financial systems, and training infrastructure needed to transform the CFT installation into a fully functioning, self-sustaining campus composting enterprise. Their research will address four core questions: How can pre-consumer food waste be collected from NAU dining operations with minimal burden on dining staff? What operational and processing protocols maximize vermicompost yield and quality? How can the program generate sufficient revenue from product sales to fully offset operating costs? And what documentation and training systems will ensure program continuity beyond the founding cohort? Data will be collected weekly using standardized weight logs, EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) calculations for greenhouse gas offset tracking, harvest efficiency metrics, and financial ledgers. Once this project is fully established, we will begin updating and fine tuning our publicly available data. All findings will be synthesized into a comprehensive enterprise framework including an operations manual, training guide, and financial model. This project directly advances NAU’s Climate Action Plan goals of Waste Minimization, Creating a Culture of Sustainability, and Cultivating a National Model of a Living Laboratory.

This project is currently pending funding through the NAU Green Fund.