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Composting and worm farming

Join the Compost Revolution

The Compost Revolution is a community initiative in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney that promotes home composting, growing food locally and connecting with your neighbours. Residents of Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick Councils are eligible for a free compost bin or wormfarm through this program.

All you need to do is visit the compost revolution website and complete the easy composting or worm farming tutorial and quiz to get your hands on a free compost bin or worm farm and start turning food scraps into healthy soil for growing food.

Composting and worm farming workshops are also held throughout the year between the three Councils. Residents may attend workshops at any Woollahra, Waverley or Randwick location. If you come to a workshop, you will receive a voucher for a free compost bin or worm farm. 

What is compost?

Composting is a process whereby food and other organic matter are broken down naturally by micro-organisms to produce a nutrient rich, organic fertiliser. Anything that was once living or was produced by something that lived can be composted.For example, hair, corn cobs, manure, paper and grass cuttings.

Once finished, compost is dark in colour, moist and has a sweet earthy smell!

Compost can do the following:

  • Reduce the amount of waste being received at landfill
  • Improve soil structure, reduce soil erosion and moderate soil pH
  • Protect plants from pests and disease
  • Build soil fertility
  • Improve the ability of soil to absorb water
  • 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.

In a single handful of rich compost there are more living organisms than there are human beings on the entire planet!

Learn how you can build and maintain your own compost (PDF).

What is worm farming?

A worm farm uses similar principles to composting but it is the worms that are breaking down the food matter. Worm farming is done on a much smaller scale, which makes it ideal for anyone living in a unit as they can be stored on the balcony.

Worm farms can do the following:

  • 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
  • Provide an alternative to disposal of fruit and vegetable scraps at landfill
  • Improve soil by replacing nutrients and minerals leached out by plants and the elements.

Learn how you can build and maintain your own worm farm (PDF).

For more information about composting or worm farming, please contact Council on 9391 7000.