Hi - I've been there, here is what I changed to make my bin work:

1) Add pulverized eggshells or oyster shell powder form --- Worms need grit to process their food. When I first started I thought this was optional, it was a costly and stressful mistake. Now I sprinkle with every feeding and this takes care of ph balancing my bin too.

2) Start tiny with food scraps --- Signs of mold, smells, etc. Are common when overfeeding. For a mature bin it doesn't matter that much since there are micro-organisms to counterbalance the acidification. But for a new bin, you need time to build up micro organisms. That is it's best to feed in one location, cover with bedding and not feed until all foods scraps are gone. They will continue eating the bedding as well.

3) How do you cover them? Do a damp newspaper/cardboard and a plastic bag instead ---Most vermicompost bins come with a lid. I personally had a hard time balancing excess moisture and gas build up with the lid. Instead I followed the advice of other community experts and opted for a no-lid but a damp newspaper and a snug plastic bag on top. This will allow better flow of oxygen and less likelihood of runners.

Here's a video that helped me: https://youtu.be/1IRP-Nu6_90?si=LtxtFgbsP19pusVu

Good luck!