Composting and Worm Farming
Have You Tried COMPOSTING or WORM FARMING?
Did you know that on average nearly one third of material found in the general garbage bin is food waste? Composting or worm farming can help!
Council sells 240L compost bins and 3-tiered worm farms - These are available for purchase during business hours at the front reception of Council Chambers Customer Service Centre (129 Showground Road, Castle Hill).
Find out more about:
Composting
Most organic matter, excluding meat, is suitable for home composting. The combined materials breakdown into a cheap non-polluting natural and effective garden fertilizer or booster for seedlings.
Where to locate the compost:
Somewhere that has contact with the earth, preferably a sunny position and well drained location.
Acceptable to Compost:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Grass clippings, leaves, bark and twigs
- Shredded/mulched pruned trees and shrubs
- Sawdust, tea leaves, tea bags and coffee grounds
- Egg shells, hair, wool and vacuum cleaner dust
- Ash from a wood burning fire (not coal)
- Cotton rags, newspaper, tissues, and serviettes (torn up)
- Breadcrumbs.
Not Acceptable to Compost:
- Fats
- Whole bones
- Large branches
- Meat
- Plastics
- Metals.
- Dairy Products
- Chemicals
- Pet excrement
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A.D.A.M Characteristics of Healthy Compost:
Aliveness: A small ecosystem is created in the compost which relies on a variety of organisms.
Diversity: A broad diversity of ingredients will help balance the compost.
Aeration: A compost heap requires air to ensure an aerobic breakdown of its contents. Remember to TURN THE COMPOST about 2 times a week.
Moisture: A compost should be moist (not wet or dry) and ideally with the consistency of a wrung out sponge.
Recommended Ratio of Ingredients:
The ratio which is generally recommended is a minimum of 2 parts carbon (dead, brown and dry material) to 1 part nitrogen (alive, green and moist material), by weight. This ratio helps to ensure the correct conditions for the compost system.
For detailed information on COMPOSTING - 
Composting Fact Sheet - 119 KB
Troubleshooting:
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Condition
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Symptoms
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Remedies
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Too wet/soggy (anaerobic)
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Unpleasant odours
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· Turn the compost more often
· Ensure the compost is well drained
· Reduce nitrogen content/increase carbon content
· Build the compost heap with more course material, especially at the base
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Too dry
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Slow break down
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· Ensure you are not over turning the compost
· Soak with water until it is moist
· Increase nitrogen content
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Unwanted visitors
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Vermin, cockroaches or excessive flies
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· Cover the entire base and surrounds with chicken wire to prevent burrowing.
· Ensure the compost is covered
· Ensure the compost lid is held down firmly with a heavy object, such as a brick
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Compost is too acidic, usually due to anaerobic conditions
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Compost smells sour
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· Add a small amount of garden lime
· Turn the heap more regularly
· Build the compost heap with more course material, especially at the base
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Too much nitrogen
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Strong smell of ammonia
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· Cover the heap with more straw or carbon rich material
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Worm farming
Take your food leftovers and turn them into a rich soil-like substance called 'castings'. Red or tiger worms are the most commonly used worms. Worms farms can be kept outside, inside, on the balcony or in the garage. They are ideal for units. Worm castings are great for feeding house plants, adding to seedling mixes and potting soils or top-dressing around plants.
Remember worms need:
- Moisture as they breathe through their skins and need to keep moist
- Drainage as they can suffocate if it gets too wet
- Cover as worms don't like direct light. This will also discourage flies and other pests.
- Not too much acid : Worms don't like acidic foods such as citrus peels or onions.
For more detailed information on setting up and maintaining a WORM FARM - Wormfarming - 69 KB
Purchasing Worms
Worms can be purchased from a range of local suppliers including:
- Sydney West Worm Growers, Box Hill, Ph: 0417 465 814
- Living Ledgends Compost Worms, Kenthurst, Ph: +61 2 9654 3284
- Local hardware stores and nurseries.
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Composting and Worm Farming Workshops
Learn how to compost and worm farm. Around 90% of greenhouse gas emissions from landfill are a result of decomposing organic material which can easily be reduced by composting garden organic materials and food scraps. Up to 50% of the waste in the red lid bin could be diverted from landfill by composting and worm farming.
Benefits of compost on your garden:
- Keeps the soil moist, saving water,
- Suppresses weeds,
- Adds organic material and nutrients to the soil.
The Hills Shire Council will be running free composting and worm farming workshops throughout the year. Call Council’s Resource Recovery Team on +61 2 9843 0505 for more information.
Bookings essential. Community Groups welcome.
Please note: The Hills Shire Council is unable to offer this service at set times of the year, instead this service will be offered subject to available resources. Keep an eye on this page for upcoming event dates and venue locations or alternatively contact the Waste Department on +61 2 9843 0555 to be placed on an email register for updates of upcoming events.
Pet Poo Converter
A Pet Poo Converter is a worm farm but instead of feeding the worms vegetable scraps, they are fed dog droppings.
YOU MUST ONLY FEED THE WORMS PET POO. DO NOT MIX PET POO AND VEGETABLE SCRAPS.
The worms convert the dog droppings into worm castings (worm poo) and a liquid fertilizer, both of which can safely be used on the garden.It has no maintenance costs, does not use any chemicals and is safe to operate.
See the Pet Poo Converter Fact Sheet to find out more.
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