A vermicomposter apparatus to treat organic matter with worms, comprising: a receptacle comprising: side walls comprising: an upper portion which is downwardly tapering and configured to facilitate compression of organic matter as said organic matter is processed, and a lower portion connected with said upper portion and which extends vertically without any taper; an upper entry aperture defined by an upper periphery of the respective sidewalls and configured for loading said receptacle with said organic matter and worms; and a lower discharge aperture configured to discharge compressed material comprising castings and organic matter, wherein the lower discharge aperture is defined by a lower periphery of the lower portion; a base lid removably connected to the receptacle at the lower discharge aperture such that the base lid is completely removable from the lower discharge aperture, the base lid being adapted to releasably close said lower discharge aperture and being configured to permit removal of said compressed material from said receptacle, the base lid comprising a floor having: a drain opening, a filter positioned at a lower portion of the base lid above the drain opening, for restricting the passage of compressed material; and a securing arrangement for releasably securing the base lid to the receptacle at the lower discharge aperture to completely remove the base lid from the receptacle, and a support including a frame for elevating the receptacle off a ground surface, wherein the receptacle rests within the support such that the upper portion of the receptacle contacts the support; wherein the lower portion serves to hold compressed organic material to be removed while permitting removal of the compressed material in the lower portion when the base lid is completely removed from the receptacle. a receptacle comprising: side walls comprising: an upper portion which is downwardly tapering and configured to facilitate compression of organic matter as said organic matter is processed, and a lower portion connected with said upper portion and which extends vertically without any taper; an upper entry aperture defined by an upper periphery of the respective sidewalls and configured for loading said receptacle with said organic matter and worms; and a lower discharge aperture configured to discharge compressed material comprising castings and organic matter, wherein the lower discharge aperture is defined by a lower periphery of the lower portion; side walls comprising: an upper portion which is downwardly tapering and configured to facilitate compression of organic matter as said organic matter is processed, and a lower portion connected with said upper portion and which extends vertically without any taper; an upper portion which is downwardly tapering and configured to facilitate compression of organic matter as said organic matter is processed, and a lower portion connected with said upper portion and which extends vertically without any taper; an upper entry aperture defined by an upper periphery of the respective sidewalls and configured for loading said receptacle with said organic matter and worms; and a lower discharge aperture configured to discharge compressed material comprising castings and organic matter, wherein the lower discharge aperture is defined by a lower periphery of the lower portion; a base lid removably connected to the receptacle at the lower discharge aperture such that the base lid is completely removable from the lower discharge aperture, the base lid being adapted to releasably close said lower discharge aperture and being configured to permit removal of said compressed material from said receptacle, the base lid comprising a floor having: a drain opening, a filter positioned at a lower portion of the base lid above the drain opening, for restricting the passage of compressed material; and a securing arrangement for releasably securing the base lid to the receptacle at the lower discharge aperture to completely remove the base lid from the receptacle, and a drain opening, a filter positioned at a lower portion of the base lid above the drain opening, for restricting the passage of compressed material; and a securing arrangement for releasably securing the base lid to the receptacle at the lower discharge aperture to completely remove the base lid from the receptacle, and a support including a frame for elevating the receptacle off a ground surface, wherein the receptacle rests within the support such that the upper portion of the receptacle contacts the support; wherein the lower portion serves to hold compressed organic material to be removed while permitting removal of the compressed material in the lower portion when the base lid is completely removed from the receptacle.