One of the best things you can do in support of a sustainable lifestyle is compost your food waste. It keeps a lot of waste out of landfills, and it helps your garden and yard thrive by providing plants with great nutrients. There are three types of composting - aerobic (air is used to help break down material quickly), anaerobic (oxygen is kept out) and vermicomposting (where worms come to play).
However, composting may not be feasible for everyone, especially for those with no space for a compost bin or yard to use it in. And composting may also not be a project you choose to take on. I am honestly in that camp - I love the concept of composting, and we have landscaping and potted plants, but I haven't set up a composting system for our house. And I honestly don't know that I want to take that on.
Photo via Worm Lady Recycles |
Now, there are options available if you want to help reduce your waste or reap the benefits of compost, without doing all the work yourself. In the Acadiana area, Worm Lady Recycles is a small operation run by Taylor Vaughan with help from her husband, Eric. She collects food waste from residents and utilizes a vermicomposting process. Once the compost is ready, it's sold as worm castings or tea. The products can be used as a fertilizer in gardens and landscaping, providing nutrients and goodness for your plants.
Photo via Worm Lady Recycles |
Worm Lady Recycles partners with other local businesses, residents and schools, and Taylor provides education for those interested in learning more about the process. Mark your calendars for her Worm Workshop on May 16!
Worm Lady Recycles also recycles produce from Acadiana-area grocery stores.
Worm castings and tea can be purchased online for local pickup or delivery, or you can shop in person at the Fightingville Fresh Market in Lafayette. Currently, worm castings are sold at $8 per pound and tea starts at $5 a gallon. Check her website for current pricing!
Photo via Worm Lady Recycles |
Benefits of using worm compost products
- Worm Lady Recycles' product is made from 100% recycled material from the Acadiana area.
- Increase plant growth and yield more fruit.
- Help prevent against some plant diseases.
- Reduce run off of harmful chemicals into our water systems.
- Most powerful natural fertilizer on the market.
- Improve and build your soil.
Photo via Worm Lady Recycles |
Items that can be recycled for composting
- Coffee grounds
- Most fruit and veggies
- Paper egg cartons
- Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
- Brown paper bags and paper cupholders (grocery store and fast food bags)
- Thin brown cardboard
- Packaging paper
Items NOT accepted for recycling
- Citrus
- Onions
- Meat
- Dairy
- Potatoes
- Cooked food
Worm Lady Recycles also accepts plastic containers and buckets to use for packaging products. You are able to contribute containers for reuse, whether hard plastic half gallon and whole gallon buckets or juice bottles with twist tops. They are also currently looking to partner with local restaurants who would like to recycle different sized buckets/containers.
Drop-off locations (Drop off as you please; contact-free!)
Always open:
- 206 Vivian Drive Lafayette, La. 70508 (gray bin is located near electricity pole)
- 115 South College Road Lafayette, La. 70503 (bin is located behind playground fence)
Open specific hours:
- Fightingville Fresh Market, 315 W Simcoe, Lafayette, La.
Open Tuesdays 3-5pm and Saturdays 12-3pm. (You can also shop some of the products here!) - United Way of Acadiana, 215 E. Pinhook Road Lafayette, La.
Gates are OPEN ONLY M-F 8am-4pm. (White box located next to United Way building entrance.)
Promotion!
Taylor also shared with me that starting this week through May 22, you can enter to win a free class and starter worm bin. Simply recycle paper products at one of the drop-off locations, post a photo of your action on Facebook or Instagram and and tag Worm Lady Recycles to be entered!
Contact/Visit
Email | Phone: 337-412-2653