Worm farming & composting
If just 5% of households in the City recycled their organic waste, it would save approximately $140,000 a year in tipping fees.
Around 50% of what goes in our bin is organic waste. Recycling organic waste is a simple way to help combat climate change. Take a look at our Easy Composting and Easy Worm Farming Guides to get you started.
Download
- Easy Composting | PDF 316Kb
- Easy Worm Farming | PDF 311Kb
Also explore The Watershed’s information sheets for many more useful downloads.
Free workshops
The City also offers free hands-on workshops to show you how to make the most of your compost bin or worm farm. You even get a free worm farm or compost bin to take home. Offer applies only to City of Sydney residents.
Upcoming workshop dates:
- Wednesday 17 Jun 6.00pm to 8.00pm - Glebe
- Wednesday 15 Jul 6.00pm to 8.00pm - Millers Point
- Sunday 26 Jul 10.00am to 12.30pm - Rosebery
- Wednesday 12 Aug 1.00pm to 3.00pm - Waterloo
- Sunday 30 Aug 10.00am to 12.30pm - Rosebery
- Thursday 17 Sep 6.00pm to 8.00pm - Ultimo
- Sunday 27 Sep 10.00am to 12.30pm - Rosebery
- Monday 12 Oct 10.00am to 12.30pm - Redfern
- Sunday 25 Oct 10.00am to 12.30pm - Rosebery
- Wednesday 11 Nov 6.30pm to 8.30pm - Woolloomooloo
- Sunday 29 Nov 10.00am to 12.30pm - Rosebery
Book
Book online by filling in a workshop enquiry form or call Michael Neville, Waste Education Coordinator, on 02 8019 6921.
Location
Millers Point: Harry Jensen Activity Centre, 17 Argyle Place
Redfern: Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt Street
Rosebery: The Rosebery Community Centre, 78 Harcourt Parade
Ultimo: Ultimo Community Centre, 40 William Henry Street
Waterloo: The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street
Woolloomooloo: Juanita Nielsen Activity Centre, Corner Nicholson & Dowling Streets
Urban Sustainability Workshops
The City's Sunday workshops are part of the Urban Sustainability workshop series. Coordinated through The Watershed, other free workshops cover Waste Issues, No-dig Gardening, Energy Smart, Low Cost Enviro Tips and more. The Watershed also runs free workshops on worm farming*
*Free worm farms and compost bins are not available with The Watershed worm farming only workshops.
Download
- Workshop Schedule > July - September 2009 | PDF 103Kb
Worm farming
You don’t need a large garden to have a worm farm. Worms can be kept outside, inside, on the balcony or in the garage and are ideal for units. Worm castings are great for feeding house plants, adding to seedling mixes and potting soils or top dressing around plants.
f you can’t get to a workshop, you can buy worm farms and compost bins from any Council Location, The Watershed in King Street, Newtown. Some worm farm and / or worm suppliers* include:
Annandale Garden Centre
Telephone: 02 9660 0874
Bunnings Nursery
Mascot
Telephone: 02 9700 8599
Gardens R Us
Kensington
Telephone: 02 9663 0701
Graeme Endean
Redfern
Telephone: 02 9318 0157
The Watershed
Newtown
Telephone: 02 9519 6366
Tumbleweed
Meadowbank
Telephone: 02 9809 7222
Vermigold
Clareville
Telephone: 02 9973 3442
Worm Affair
Available through BBC and Kmart
Telephone: 1300 555 539
*Providing these details does not imply that the City endorses the services and products of the suppliers.

Support hotline
The Council’s Waste Education Coordinator provides support for home composting or worm farming. Advice can be provided on the phone or you can arrange a site visit. Call 02 9246 7803.
Last Updated: Thursday 16 July, 2009