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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 2) Environmental Discussion Forum
avidwormer
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 43
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 Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/06 12:19 Has anyone heard of an environmentally friendly alternative to styrofoam for bait cups? I'm hoping to pick Canadian Night Crawlers through the fall to sell as fishing bait. But I can't find packaging that will sufficiently insulate the worms while maintaining the lightweight compact qualities of the styrofoam cups that fisherman have grown accustomed to using. There must be something out there? Avidwormer
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timnbama
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 167
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/07 05:36 Are you talking made from recycled materials or biodegradable? There's a few lines of biodegradable stuff out there that's mainly in the form of drinking cups and bowls right now and they are very pricey compared to conventional bait ccontainers.
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squirminwormfarm
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 104
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/07 10:27 I have tried a few times to find what you are describing avid, but so far have not come up with anything. All I have been able to find are just what tim has mentioned and there would be no way I could compete or stay in the bait business if I went that route right now.

I would like to find something though. I would tie in much better with my castings, potting soil, and other organic gardening supplies. And it would give me one more competitive advantage on the bait side of my business. Dave Wallace
Squirmin' Worm Farm
Plymouth, WI
www.squirminwormfarm.com
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avidwormer
User

A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 43
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/09 01:39 Thanks Tim and Dave,
You were correct in assuming I meant biodegradable bait cups. It seems so wrong to use Styrofoam when my whole business revolves around composting and natural soil amendments etc. I'll keep looking and will post what I find when I find a feasible alternative.
Best,
Avid Avidwormer
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timnbama
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 167
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/09 06:57 The ones that I've seen on the net are mainly 12 oz. regular drinking cups and the very shallow bowls & plates. Some are cornstarch and some are from sugar cane wastes. They're supposed to withstand boiling water
but with a price a little high for only 50 containers. If you have the right market in your area though you might want to check into it. Some areas and some people might be willing to pay a little more for that enviromental factor.
A couple years ago almost everything that I received from several companies was using the cornstarch peanuts as packing material. Lately I haven't received anything with those; back to either the styrofoam pellets or the tubular stuff. That might have become a cost factor for some of the companies. I wish some company would send me some as I want to try them for worm feed. The area in my African beds where I feed them a little corn flour is where all the babies congregate after they hatch.
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avidwormer
User

A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 43
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/08/09 09:04 Thanks Tim,
I've seen a few brands of the corn syrup and cornstarch cups, but I don't think they'll insulate the CNCs enough. The sugar cane might be the best bet to try. I'll keep you posted. I do think people are willing to pay more for biodegradable options as long as they work as well as the styrofoam.

I wonder how long it'd take for the worms to break down the biodegradable stuff? You've made an excellent point. It would be very cool if the worms could eat their own packaging! I guess there'd have to be a significant time factor to allow proper storage for a couple weeks. Time for some experimenting! Avidwormer
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jhimli
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 1
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2008/12/10 22:47 Hi friend, it seems to be a new kind of information you shared here. Nice post! Just keep posting such kind of informative posts to increase environmental awareness. Click4carbon
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ArkieGold
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 42
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/04/13 07:28 Ever try peat pots? Arkie's Vermiculture
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wellsworms
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 624
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/04/29 15:40 this sound like a sure way to insure the bait is sold fresh sell by xx/xx/20?? or the container disolves FEED IT TO THE WORMS
WELLS,vermont
jerry walker 2008
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T Worm Farm
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 32
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/05/07 06:17 BigTexWorms posted this web site on a different post.
http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/plfc-32.html

I looked at them but I wonder if they'll last with worms and moist bedding.

Post edited by: T Worm Farm, at: 2009/05/07 06:19 T Worm Farms
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T Worm Farm
User

A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 32
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/05/17 19:56 I ordered some cups from http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/plfc-32.html
should be here in a week or so. I want to test them out with some good customers of mine before ordering a bunch. I also got pricing for printed cups. Pretty pricey, but all my cups a printed. Let you know how it goes in a few weeks. Doug T Worm Farms
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BigTexWorms
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 50
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/05/19 23:12 These are the same cups most retailers are selling out of here in my area. The pricing is good but still out of my price range for low scale like me.
Let me know how they work out. Liz aka BigTexWorms
http://bigtexworms.webs.com
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cathd
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 2
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/05/21 14:32 Just a suggestion- but in my experience cheap paper cups degrade fairly fast (sometimes when you're still holding them!!) And you could improve their insulating quality by just using two or three inside each other. I know of a coffee place near me which took this route to stop using polystyrene.
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Paratrooper
User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm
Posts: 83
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 Re:Environmentally Friendly Bait Cups - 2009/05/23 00:49 I have an idea but the explaining of it might lose something in the translation . Here goes . After a roll of toilet paper is finished you still have a roll of cardboard . Make it flat (longways) and cut it about 3/4 of an inch to an inch at the end . Now turn it 180 degrees , flatten it again and cut again . Now most people know how to close a box by folding each flap down and the last one if forced under the first one . The end of your roll will be able to accept this method of closing . Do the same to the other end and you have a cylinder in which to put your worms AND it might feed them BUT will surely degrade in time .Not to mention that the middle of each end will allow a tiny amount of air to enter . If you are worried about them opening during transport you could make a paste with corn starch to hold the ends closed .
Hope I made this clear enough . Tom
Kingman Arizona
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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 2) Environmental Discussion Forum

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