S.African hotel pampers worms (Reuters/CNN) {recycling food waste}

[eppur_se_muova]

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) -- Thousands of earthworms guzzle tonnes of scrap food left over from the tables of the rich and famous at South Africa's plush Mount Nelson hotel, quietly doing their bit to save the planet.
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The worms are kept out of sight of patrons enjoying the opulent surroundings and gourmet treats, but they bask in pampered luxury in a backroom a short slither from the presidential suite.
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Their fluid excrement, or "worm tea", is carefully harvested and used as a prized fertilizer in the hotel's rolling gardens, where peacocks parade on manicured lawns. Their other by-product, vermicast, is a rich compost.
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The worms neutralize harmful bacteria, such as Ecoli, and produce beneficial bacteria while increasing the levels of nitrogen and potassium in the soil -- elements that help vegetables grow.
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Organic waste on rubbish dumps releases carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, adding to global warming.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/07/31/southafrica.reut/index.html

Sounds like some nice people trying to do their part. And SA apparently is serious about reducing landfill usage.

[patricia92243]

1. I have a worm farm. My flowers turn a beautiful dark green when I give

them "worm water." I've put old clothes, towels, etc on top of them for protection and they eaten them - not counting me and my sister's table scraps.

They are in a pen on my back porch - fun and useful.