Faecal sludge requires treatment before it can be safely discharged. Novel treatment technologies, such
as vermifiltration need to be explored. This study aims to determine if a simple vermifilter containing
Eisenia fetida can process sludge and explores the effect of bedding materials (woodchip, granular
activated carbon (GAC) + woodchip, and clay pebbles + woodchip) on nitrogen reduction in the effluent.
All bedding materials performed well for general effluent quality, but nitrification was not found to
occur. This was thought to be due to sampling and analysis techniques. The GAC bedding was unsuitable
as worm density decreased. The optimum bedding material was woodchip which yielded the highest
worm and cocoon densities, vermicompost production and solids conversion. This study proves that E.
fetida have the ability to process sludge in a simple vermifilter and adds to the debate on nitrification in
these systems