Project aim
To determine the amount of organic waste
able to be diverted from landfill through
worm farm trials in domestic households.
Project methodology
- 193 worm farms were distributed to
households in 10 streets within the
Willoughby local government area.
- In addition, seven schools (both
primary and high school) were provided
with a worm farm as part of a mini
education program.
- Residents were provided with regular
on-site assistance.
- A waste audit was undertaken to
determine the impact the worm farms had
on diversion of food and organic waste
from the main garbage stream.
Project outcomes
The comprehensive garbage audit of those
households participating in the trial
revealed that the food waste component was
approximately 25% of the total waste stream.
This represents a 15% reduction in the total
waste stream when compared with results from
audits carried out prior to the trial by
Beverage Industry Environment Council & the
Northern Sydney Waste Board during 1997. The
average quantity of food waste in the
garbage stream was 2.1 kg per week for
households participating in the trial
compared with 3.7 kg per week for those who
were not. Therefore a saving of 1.6 kg per
household per week by the use of a worm farm
could be achieved. This potentially could
result in approximately 82 kg per household
per year of food waste being diverted from
landfill.
Key factors contributing to project
success
The Home Worm Farm Trial has shown that
some residents are more willing to continue
use of worm farms when regular support is
available. This support was a major
component of the trial. A total of 535
checkup calls were made during the course of
the trial. Due to the assistance provided
the failure rate was less than 3%.
Information material developed
- Final report
- Information display
- Newspaper article
Related projects
-
97_016 - Green Waste Reprocessing in
Schools
-
97_056 - On-site Management of
Domestic Green Waste
-
97_071 - Home Worm Factory Trial
-
97_100 - Worm Waste? An Innovative
Approach to Greenwaste Processing
97_128 - Education in Domestic Waste
Reduction - a demonstration worm farm
and composting facility
-
97_195 - Worm Farm Development
-
97_205 - An On-site Organic Waste
Processing Unit for Commercial Food
Producers
-
98_031 - Waste Food Collection from
Restaurants Cafes and Supermarkets for
Processing in a Worm Farm
-
98_038 - Grass Roots Food and Green
Waste Avoidance Program
-
98_143 - Trial of an Industrial
Capacity Worm Bin
-
98_203 - BioGreen Castings -
Assessing the Merits of Vermiculture in
Biosolid Management
Contacts
Jim McCormick
Phone: (02) 9777 7680
Fax: (02) 9412 3107
Community Waste Reduction Grants
Co-ordinator
Environment Protection Authority
Phone: (02) 9995 5639
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/ |
