Use of vermiculture technology for waste management and environmental remediation in Argentina

Throughout the world, there have been increasing interests in the recycling of wastes for sustainable development. This especially applies for organic materials of municipal and agro-industrial origin. Recycling initiatives in Argentina are still incipient. In the last years, the use of earthworms for stabilising organic wastes has been evaluated. In this paper, the authors compile the research results of vermicomposting of organic residues from different raw materials and its use as a biofertiliser, to provide a general outlook of the development of vermiculture technology in Argentina within the last decade. Research results of bioaccumulation of some trace elements by worms in artificially contaminated systems are also provided.