Published: 1 July 2010

From 1 July 2010 Council is selling discounted compost bins and worm farms to residents.

In a bid to encourage more households within the Woollahra municipality to reduce waste and live more sustainably, Woollahra Council will offer discounted compost bins and worm farms to local residents from 1 July 2010.

Residents can purchase medium or large compost bins as well as worm farms. Medium compost bins (220L) cost $25, large compost bins (400L) are just $35 and worm farms (worms not included) cost $50 each.

By composting or using a worm farm at home we can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and gain many valuable benefits for our gardens including:

• Improve the ability of soil to absorb water
• Improve soil structure, build fertility and reduce erosion
• Protect plants from pests and disease and provide essential plant nutrients
• Bring life (in the form of micro-organisms) back to soil
• Save time, money and water to cultivate plants and nourish soil.

For those with limited space, a worm farm is the ideal choice as it can be stored on a balcony, or even inside. Worm farms can break down nearly all kinds of fruit and vegetable scraps and turn them into liquid fertiliser (worm tea) and castings. Worm tea can be used for fertilising plants and castings are excellent potting mix for growing seedlings as well as a great nutrient source for mature plants.

“Residents may not be aware that food and garden waste contributes to global warming. Rotting organics matter in landfill releases methane which is 23 times more powerful than Carbon Dioxide.” said Mayor of Woollahra, Cr Andrew Petrie.

“For every tonne of organic matter that our municipality recycles through composting, we save almost one tonne of greenhouse gases from being created.” Cr Petrie said.

This is the first time Council has offered compost bins and worm farms for sale and is in addition to our already successful ‘Kitchen to Compost’ food organics recycling service which allows residents to cut their household waste by approximately 50%. The ‘Kitchen to Compost’ service allows residents to place all food scraps in their green garden bin along with garden organics for recycling.  This is then collected as part of the weekly rubbish collection, recycled and turned into valuable compost.

For more information please visit our Composting and worm farming page, or to order your discounted compost bin and/or worm farm simply download an order form (PDF) or call 9391 7000.

New compost bins and/or worm farms will be delivered to residents within 5 days of payment. Limit one compost bin and/or worm farm per household.

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