However, meat, fish and dairy products should not form part of a body material that is to be made into worm compost.
In its status as a widely used horticultural product, there are many benefits attributed to worm compost: such as how it improves soil conditions and enriches it with micro-organisms by adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulose. (Water holding capacity is improved as well.)

This has its benefits for plants – technically, germination, plant growth and crop yield are enhanced; and it enables root growth and structure.

From an economic perspective, it means a lower waste flow to landfill sites and it creates low-skill, practical jobs in local areas. And it’s good for the environment in that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

There are a number of vermicomposting bins on sale, which can be made of old plastic containers, wood, Styrofoam or metal containers. However, there are types of wood which are avoided in worm bin construction: some cedars, Yellow cedar and redwood contain resinous oils that may harm worms – although Western Red Cedar has been seen to have excellent longevity in composting conditions.

Worm compost is recommended as fertilizer material.

The earthworm species most used in the process (composting worms) are mostly Red Wigglers (Eisenia foetida), but European nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis) may also be used, as well as more acid-tolerant worms called dendrobaenas or dendras.
Worm composting is a common activity in locations over the world, although it is particularly large-scale in Canada, Italy, Japan and the US. Worm composting has its uses in farming and landscaping, such as in the manufacture of compost tea.

There are two systems of larger-scale worm composting, the first type using a windrow, which is just a body of bedding materials for the earthworms to live in; and there is always an abundance of organic matter for them to feed on, which is continually added to.

The second system is the raised bed flow-through system, which locates an inch of worm food across the top of the bed while an inch of castings is harvested from below when a breaker bar is pulled across the large mesh screen which constitutes the base of the bed.
Worm composting operatives may wish to note that the most kinds of worm composting worms – Eisenia foetida, Eisenia andrei and Lumbricus rubellus – feed most rapidly at temperatures of 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (15-25 degrees Celsius). They can survive at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).