Booboo
A community service system
Wenzhou Kean University
Student Project - Individual Work
September - December, 2024
A community-scale vermicomposting system that transforms coal fly ash, organic waste, and manure into fertile soil to grow bamboo, supporting rural ecology and livelihoods.
Rural Coal Use and Waste Issues
In many rural areas, coal remains a primary household fuel, generating fly ash and waste with limited utilization pathways. Soil fertility is often low, and nutrient cycles are disrupted.
Soil Nutrition and Composting Needs
Soil in some regions often lacks key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, leading to poor crop performance and ecological imbalance. Integrating organic matter and nutrient-rich compost is essential for regenerative agriculture.
Vermicomposting: A Natural Nutrient Solution
Earthworms accelerate the breakdown of organic waste and manure, stabilizing heavy metals and enhancing nutrient availability such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This makes vermicompost a fertile soil amendment suitable for bamboo cultivation.
Stablilize heavy metal
M⁺ + C6H8O7(citric acid) [M−C6H8O7]
Cd²⁺ + earthworm protein Cd-protein complex
M⁺ + C6H8O7(citric acid) [M−C6H8O7](chelate complex)
Cd²⁺ + earthworm protein Cd-protein complex
Nitrogen(N)
Protein (organic nitrogen) + H2O NH₄⁺ + Others
Protein + H2O NH₄⁺ + Others
Phosphorus(P)
C₆H₁₃O₉P H₂PO₄⁻ + Others
KAlSi₃O₈+ H⁺+H₂O K⁺ + H₄AlSi₂O₉
Potassium(K)
C₆H₁₃O₉P H₂PO₄⁻ + Others
KAlSi₃O₈ + H⁺ + H₂O K⁺ + H₄AlSi₂O₉
PhosphataseUser Research
Villagers want more productive land and sustainable income sources.
Many lack awareness or tools to turn waste into usable soil resources.
Southern Chinese villages have abundant bamboo resources and long-standing bamboo weaving techniques.
Bamboo craftsmanship is mature but declining due to labor intensity and limited raw material accessibility.
These insights suggest an opportunity to connect waste recycling, soil regeneration, and local bamboo craftsmanship into a community-driven service system.
Service System
In this service system, villagers voluntarily collect coal fly ash (CFA), animal manure, and organic waste from their daily lives and hand them over to “Booboo” staff during regular village collection rounds. The staff use small carts to sort and transport the waste to a dedicated garden area—separated to prevent villagers from accidentally harvesting and consuming bamboo shoots—where bamboo is cultivated.
The bamboo can be used by villagers for bamboo handicrafts or sold directly for non-food purposes, and the generated revenue is shared to support both the staff and the villagers, forming a sustainable system that addresses ecological issues while strengthening the local economy.
