Our compost is jumping worm free. Material that is composted at a permitted industrial composting facility, such as ours, is required by federal regulation to meet the Process to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP). This requires us to do regular temperature monitoring in our compost piles to ensure they are meeting a minimum temperature of 131 degrees F for at least 15 consecutive days.
These temperatures can kill any pathogens, weed seeds, and invasive species that may have initially gone into the compost process. Jumping worms and their cocoons die off at temperatures of 104 degrees F, so there is no chance for them to survive this process.
Our finished compost is kept on paved asphalt surface far away from any incoming materials, so there is very little chance any jumping worms would be crawling into the finished piles of product from the surrounding area.
When news articles and agencies talk about jumping worms spreading through compost, they are typically referring to compost from non-permitted compost sites that does not meet the stringent time and temperature requirements that permitted facilities adhere to. Their statements have caused a lot of confusion for the general public.
People should not be worried about using compost from a permitted facility. However, it should be noted that if jumping worms are already present in their yard, compost will not eliminate them.
