Bioresource Technology 100 (2009) 1027–1030

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Bioresource Technology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biortech

Short Communication

Waste recycling: Utilization of coffee grounds

and kitchen waste in vermicomposting
A.J. Adi *, Z.M. Noor
Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Vermicomposting using Lumbricus rubellus for 49 days was conducted after 21 days of pre-composting.
Received 24 March 2008 Three different combination of treatments were prepared with eight replicates for each treatment namely
Received in revised form 15 July 2008 cow dung: kitchen waste in 30:70 ratio (T1), cow dung: coffee grounds in 30:70 ratio (T2), and cow dung:
Accepted 15 July 2008
kitchen waste: coffee grounds in 30:35:35 ratio (T3). The multiplication of earthworms in terms of num-
Available online 26 August 2008
bers and weight were measured at the end of vermicomposting. Consequently, only T2 showed significant
increase (from it initial stage) compared to other treatments. The presence of coffee grounds in T2 and T3
Keywords:
showed higher percentage of nutrient elements in vermicompost produced. The data reveal that coffee
Coffee grounds
Kitchen waste
grounds can be decomposed through vermicomposting and help to enhance the quality of vermicompost
Nutrient element produced rather than sole use of kitchen waste in vermicomposting.
Lumbricus rubellus Crown Copyright Ó 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vermicomposting

1. Introduction In Malaysia, 45% of all the wastes dumped to landfills composed

For the past decades, the environmental pollution problems
originated from municipal solid waste (MSW) call for more sus-
tainable waste management systems. Vermicomposting has been
identified as one of the potential activities in managing MSW since
it is a natural process, cost effective and only shorter duration
needed to accomplish; one to two weeks. A 9-day thermocompo-
sting prior to vermicomposting helped in mass reduction, moisture
management and pathogen reduction (Nair et al., 2006). The ac-
tions of earthworms in the vermicomposting include substrate aer-
ation, mixing, grinding, fragmentation, enzymatic digestion and
also microbial decomposition of substrate in intestine of earth-
worms (Hand et al., 1998; Sharma et al., 2005).
The earthworms can tolerate temperatures ranging from 0 °C to
40 °C with pH of 7 but the regeneration capacity is more at 25 °C–
40 °C and 40–45% moisture contents and partially decomposed or-
ganic matter is rich in nitrogen (Kale, 1995; Nagavallemma et al.,
2004). Vermicomposting also can be classified as a simple biotech-
nology process of composting by using certain earthworms to en-
hance the process of waste conversion and to produce better end
product; vermicompost. Garg et al. (2006) stated that the percent-
age of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in vermicompost was
found to increase while pH and total organic carbon declined as a
function of the vermicomposting period. The survival, biomass pro-
duction and reproduction of earthworms are the best indicator to
evaluate the vermicomposting process (Suthar, 2006).
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +603 7967 6753; fax: +603 7967 6752.
E-mail address: conquer_vx@hotmail.com (A.J. Adi).
of kitchen waste (Economic Planning Unit, 2006) including coffee
grounds. With the shortened life span of existing landfills while
limited spaces for new opening of landfills, all these valuable or-
ganic wastes need to be fully utilized by vermicomposting before
final disposal at the landfills. However, most of the kitchen waste
produced from cafeteria was high in moisture content which is
unacceptable condition for earthworms as a result of the mixture
of animal and plant based materials.
The aims of the experiment were to see the potential of coffee
grounds which are high in N (Dinsdale et al., 1996) to be decom-
posed through vermicomposting and how they play a role to help
stabilize kitchen waste condition for vermicomposting.
2. Methods
2.1. Experimental design
The feed materials were obtained from different sources. The
cow dung was obtained from a cow farm in Banting, Selangor.
Cows from this farm only feed on raw grasses. The used coffee
grounds (extracted) were obtained from coffeehouses around
Petaling Jaya. Kitchen waste was taken from cafeterias within Uni-
versity of Malaya campus. These three types of feed materials are
high in N contents (Dinsdale et al., 1996; Loh et al., 2005; Bijaya
et al., 2007).
Plastic bins of size 45 cm  30 cm  30 cm with four plots in
each box and small holes at the bottom were used as worm bin.
Each plot has a thin layer of newspapers to absorb any extra

0960-8524/$ - see front matter Crown Copyright Ó 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.07.024
1028 A.J. Adi, Z.M. Noor / Bioresource Technology 100 (2009) 1027–1030

moisture and to restrain the earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) from
escaping through the small holes at the bottom of the box.
Three types of treatments (feed materials) were prepared; (i)
cow dung + kitchen waste in 30:70 ratio (T1), (ii) cow dung + coffee
grounds in 30:70 ratio (T2), and (iii) cow dung + kitchen
waste + coffee grounds in 30:35:35 ratio (T3).
Each treatment consisted of eight replicates (2.5 kg of feed
materials in each replicate) with 1 cm of garden soil on the top
as a final cover to avoid any problem of odor and pests in and
around the worm boxes. The use of cow dung is only as a supple-
ment and also used as bedding material for the earthworms at
early stage before they climatize with the treatments given. As
adapted from Kaviraj and Sharma (2003), 60 weighted matured
earthworms approximately same size were introduced in each
treatment plot after 21 days (3 weeks) of pre-composting of organ-
ic wastes (Nair et al., 2006). This was done to avoid exposure of
earthworms to high temperature during initial thermophilic stage
of composting.
The duration of the experiment was 49 days (7 weeks) as sexual
maturity period for this species is 4–6 weeks under favorable con-
ditions (Ismail, 1997). Moisture content of the treatment was
maintained at about 50–80% by spraying the surface with mineral
water every two days using a wash bottle (20–40 ml per plot). The
use of mineral water was to eliminate any unstable chlorine in tap
water to be in contact with the earthworms. The experimental bins
were kept in the lab under room temperature and were covered
with mosquito net to prevent any intrusion of pests.
After 49 days, the earthworms were removed manually and the
total number and biomass of the earthworms were determined.
Values were determined as live weight after hand sorting and re-
moval of all extraneous material. Two days before the determina-
tion, all the treatments were not watered to make the sifting of
compost easier. All the vermicompost produced were taken out
from the plots individually and left under ambient condition for
a couple of hours when all the earthworms have moved down
the heap. Thus, sorting process became easier.
with the increasing number and weight compared to other two
treatments (T1 and T3). The fine grinds of coffee grounds (typically
used for brewing) as feed material helped stabilize the condition in
plot B1–B8. It can be assured that it was suitable for the vermicom-
posting process by helping to improve the texture, and moisture
retention capabilities. Thus, helped to aerate the whole plots and
make it easier for the earthworms to eat. The aroma of roasted cof-
fee (coffee grounds) contains more than 800 volatile molecular
species (Illy, 2002) is predicted to be capable of discouraging pests
from intruding the earthworms as what happened in T1 and T3.
Therefore, by reducing number of mites in all T2 plots, it will accel-
erate the earthworms’ reproduction as also reported by Dickerson
(2001).
The presences of fungi during vermicomposting process became
additional supplement to the earthworms which contributed to the
increased number and weight of the earthworms. Fungi have cell
walls composed of chitin that contains high natural protein; amino
polysaccharide (Kumar, 1995). Earthworms gained weight when
reared in cultures of certain fungal species (Edwards and Fletcher,
1998). In particular, protozoa and fungi are assumed to form a sub-
stantial part of their diet (Brown, 1995; Bonkowski and Schaefer,
1997).
The presence of kitchen waste which consisted of animal resi-
due from fish and chicken in T1 enhanced the moisture content.
As a result, the declines in the number and weight of earthworms
for most of the plots for T1 (A1–A8) were due to too much moisture
in worm bins which could result in purification of waste (Kristiana
et al., 2005). It will lead to anaerobic condition that probably
caused by presence of excess water which restricted the air move-
ment through the available pore spaces in the substrates (Singh et
al., 2004). Decomposition of animal proteins by anaerobic microor-
ganisms in low oxygen contents condition can lead earthworms to
asphyxiate. The odor generated from metabolism and decomposi-
tion of anaerobic microorganisms invited mites and juvenile flies
which in turn became pests in and around the earthworm bins.

2.2. Statistical analysis Table 1

Multiplication of earthworms (weights and numbers) in different treatments
Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 11.0.1 (Standard
Treatment Plot Weight of Earthworms Number of Earthworms
Version) computer software package. One way analysis of variance earthworms (g) weight gain earthworms number gain
(ANOVA) was done to analyze the significant difference between (g)
Initial Final Initial Final
treatments during vermicomposting at 0.05% level of significance.
Paired samples t-test was used to determine any significant differ- T1 A1 13.46 14.20 0.74 60 94 34
A2 10.40 11.35 0.95 60 52 8
ence between the numbers and weights of earthworms (L. rubellus)
A3 12.50 9.44 3.06 60 58 2
in each treatment. A4 13.88 17.85 3.97 60 99 39
A5 12.87 10.25 2.62 60 42 18
A6 13.53 4.46 9.07 60 21 39
2.3. Nutrient elements analysis
A7 11.18 14.43 3.25 60 59 1
A8 13.82 9.45 4.37 60 52 8
The nutrient parameters of vermicompost produced after
T2 B1 13.63 17.30 3.67 60 94 34
experiments were analyzed by using standard method. Organic C B2 13.69 6.26 7.43 60 56 4
was determined by the partially-oxidation method (Walkley and B3 11.13 15.61 4.48 60 88 28
Black, 1934). N was estimated by Kjeldahl digestion (Bremner B4 14.17 19.45 5.28 60 151 91
B5 14.52 12.60 1.92 60 71 11
and Mulvaney, 1982). P and B were detected by using colorimetric
B6 12.19 11.98 0.21 60 84 24
(John, 1970). For crude fat determination, ether extract was used. B7 13.14 21.73 8.59 60 110 50
K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were measured by ignition method B8 10.84 20.82 9.98 60 118 58
using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Loh et al., 2005). T3 C1 13.19 8.33 4.86 60 39 21
Lastly, C/N ratio analyzed through the calculation was used as a cri- C2 11.82 16.20 4.38 60 62 2
terion to determine the maturity of vermicompost. C3 12.47 16.92 4.45 60 65 5
C4 12.02 12.14 0.12 60 49 11
C5 13.27 15.45 2.18 60 96 36
3. Results and discussion C6 10.70 13.15 2.45 60 85 25
C7 12.34 6.07 6.27 60 48 12
C8 14.85 19.24 4.39 60 95 35
The multiplication of earthworms (number and weight) for
three different types of treatments is presented in Table 1. Gener- T1–Cow dung: Kitchen waste (30:70); T2–Cow dung: Coffee grounds (30:70); T3–
ally, most of the plots for the T2 (B1–B8) showed positive results Cow dung: Kitchen waste: Coffee grounds (30:35:35).
 A.J. Adi, Z.M. Noor / Bioresource Technology 100 (2009) 1027–1030 1029

As opposed to T1, the multiplication of earthworms in T3 Other nutrient elements such as Na, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and B are
showed better results. The coffee grounds have provided a suitable classified as trace or micronutrient elements which are required
environment for the earthworms’ reproduction activity by stabiliz- by plants in very low concentrations for adequate growth and
ing the pH, increasing the aeration circulation and turning down reproduction. Despite their low concentrations within the plant
the temperature to a suitable range for reproduction process tissues and organs, micronutrients are of equal important to
(25 °C–30 °C). macronutrients for the nutrition of plants that are essential for
Statistically, the difference between number and weight is only the growth and development (Kirkby and Romheld, 2004).
significant in T2 where the p < 0.05 as compared to other treatments. The percentage difference for micronutrient elements in vermi-
The nutrient elements of vermicompost for three different compost among three treatments are only in small different ranges
treatments are presented in Table 2. The value of C for all treat- (Table 2). The analysis of crude fat in vermicompost can be an indi-
ments are only in small different ranges (14.9–15.2%) compared cator to determine the stabilization of waste used as feed materials
to N (1.07–2.13%). The use of coffee grounds which is rich of N con- in vermicomposting. The highest percentage in T1 (1.20%) probably
tent in T3 directly increased the N contents in the vermicompost caused by the characteristic of used feed materials; kitchen waste
two times more (2.13%) rather than using only kitchen waste as that consist some of animal based residues.
feed materials in T1 (1.07%). The use of only coffee grounds in T2
also stated high percentage of N up to 2.01% due to initial N present 4. Conclusion
in the feed materials (Suthar, 2006) and also relics on to the extent
of N fixed by free living nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Kale et al., 1982). The study definitely reveals that coffee grounds can be decom-
The C/N ratio traditionally considered as a parameter to deter- posed through vermicomposting by using L. rubellus value-added
mine the degree of maturity of compost. C/N ratio below 20 is material. Coffee grounds can also play a role in stabilizing kitchen
indicative of acceptable maturity, while a ratio of 15 or lower being waste condition that indirectly provides a better environment for
preferable (Morais and Queda, 2003). Referring to this study, ver- fostering population growth of earthworms and produces a high
micompost from all treatments is preferable as C/N ratio stated quality vermicompost as end product.
7.1–14.1 (Table 2).
According to the percentage of C and N in the vermicompost,
Acknowledgements
the difference for C is not very significant among the three treat-
ments (14.9–15.2%) compared to N. The percentage of N for T2
Authors would like to thank MIF Sdn. Bhd. for their consultation
and T3 are double than that of T1 which has definitely influenced
on vermicomposting, the coffeehouses in Petaling Jaya, and cafete-
the C/N ratio.
rias in University of Malaya campus for their full support on sup-
Furthermore, with the presence of coffee grounds in T2 and T3,
plying coffee grounds and kitchen waste to be used as feed
the content of K (0.99% and 0.79%) and Mg (0.28% and 0.26%) in
materials in this study. This work was conducted in the fulfilment
vermicompost showed higher percentage compared to T1(0.41%
of the requirements for degree of M.Tech (Environment Manage-
and 0.20%). On the other hand, coffee grounds did not affect P
ment) and financially supported by the IPPP, UM under PJP Vot
and Ca content in vermicompost when the percentages of these
(FS257 2007C) managed by UPDiT.
two nutrient elements are higher in T1 (0.32% and 3.12%) among
to T2 (0.29% and 1.00%) and T3 (0.24% and 0.41%). This indicates that
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