Millions of tons of municipal solid wastes (MSW) comprising a great proportion of 'food & green garden wastes' generated from homes and institutions are ending up in the landfills everyday, creating extraordinary economic problems for the local government and environmental problems for the society due to increasingly high cost of landfill construction, waste disposal and monitoring for emission of powerful 'greenhouse gases', 'toxic gases' and discharge of 'leachate' with serious risk of polluting groundwater. Studies indicate that vermi-composting of food and garden wastes by waste-eater earthworms is more efficient over the conventional aerobic systems. This book explores the possibilities of management in this area.

Earthworm's vermicompost is a nutritive organic fertiliser rich in NKP, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes. They are scientifically proven to be excellent growth promoters and protectors for crop plants. In experiments with corn and wheat crops it displayed excellent growth performances in terms of height of plants, colour and texture of leaves, as well as the appearance of fruiting structures. There is also less incidences of pest and disease attack and reduced demand of water for irrigation. This book discusses and presents data which suggest that the vermicompost of earthworms contributes to an increase in the yield of crops when used as a fertiliser.

Bioremediation is a soft bioengineering technique to clean up contaminated lands and soils using microbes, plants and earthworms. It is also a technique to stabilise the eroded lands and prevent soil erosion. Microbes are adapted to thrive in 'adverse conditions' of high acidity, alkalinity, toxicity and high temperature. Under favourable conditions of growth, microbes can biodegrade and biotransform the complex hazardous organic chemicals into simpler and harmless ones. Environmentalists are viewing microbes such as yeast, bacteria, algae, diatoms and actinomycetes as an 'eco-friendly nano-factories' for metal remediation. This book addresses these issues regarding the benefits of microbes, plants and earthworms in bioremediation.

Hazardous chemicals and radioactive substances have permeated the human environment and the ecosystem. They are now in our basic life support systems - air, water, food and soil. A matter of more serious concern is that human beings have been exposed to synthetic chemicals for which there has been no past evolutionary adaptation or experience. Any chemical which interferes directly or indirectly with hormone function can scramble vital messages, derail development and undermine health. This book highlights the scientific research being done to identify these harmful chemicals, especially carcinogens, teratogens, immunotoxins and endocrine disruptors used in production processes and their release into the human environment, making it possible to restrict or even eliminate their production and use.