The biggest way that GREAT Sorts reduce landfill waste is to EARTH-CYCLE food scraps and garden waste into compost at home. Visit Waste Sorted, Be a GREAT Sort to find out more.

Earth-cycling is nature's way of recycling. It’s easy to avoid sending food scraps and garden prunings into your general waste bin by composting at home. Your choices include traditional composting, worm farming or bokashi.

Earth-cycling is fantastic for your garden and helps the environment. Adding compost and worm farm liquids to your garden soil:

Frequently Asked Questions: workshops, rebates and discounts for worm farms and compost systems

How often are composting and worm farming workshops hosted by the City?

Workshops are usually scheduled in May and November each year. Dates, times and venues will appear on the City's website

At these practical workshops, you will:

  • Learn how to use a variety of composting systems, such as Gedyes, Bokashi, compost bays and EnsoPet

  • Learn how to feed and maintain a worm farm

  • Identify which of the various systems is the best fit for your household’s individual circumstances

  • Understand the waste inputs for each system

  • Understand how compost and worm farm byproducts benefit soil structure and plant health.

I don’t want to wait until the workshop is held. What other options are available to me?

As an Armadale resident, you are eligible to participate in the rewards for residents program, which includes a variety of discounted sustainable home and lifestyle goods and services. Each provider offers goods and services (including worm farms and composting systems) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut water use and limit waste.

How do I know if I am eligible to participate in the composting and worm farm workshop and rebate program?

To be eligible for this one off, one rebate per household offer, you must

  • Provide suitable ID to demonstrate that you live in the City of Armadale, upon arrival at the workshop

  • Register to attend the event online, and pay the $25 cost, plus a small booking fee

  • Attend the workshop on the scheduled day

  • Select your compost or worm farm at the conclusion of the website

I already have a home composting and or worm farm system, but would like to refresh my skills. Can I still attend?

I already have a home composting and or worm farm system, but would like to refresh my skills. Can I still attend?

  • Refunds are not provided, but your details will be transferred to the next available workshop date, and you will be notified of the details in writing.

Composting

Composting assists in the reduction of food wastes ending up in our landfills. It turns natural scraps into nutrient-rich compost that will help garden and improve soil quality. Reducing the amount of compostable waste in landfill will lower the negative environmental impacts imposed by compostable wastes being disposed of in such a way.

You can easily set up your own garden composting system and make your plants healthier at no extra cost. Most composting units are designed to speed up the decomposition of organic matter through aeration and moisture retention. With the proper combination of air, nutrients and moisture, waste is transformed into compost. There are multiple types of composting units, all with varying results.

See the table below for a comparison of various systems, to find one that suits your household.

Compost units

Worm farms

Bokashi bins

EnsoPet Pet Waste Composter

Dwelling suitability

All households with gardens and schools

All households, offices, apartments and schools

All households, offices, apartments and schools

All households with gardens and schools

Unit location

Preferably outdoors, away from house in a sunny area

Preferably outdoors (can go indoors) in the shade

Anywhere

Outside

Efficency

Variable depending on unit, nutrient balance and aeration

Variable depending on unit, nutrient balance and worms

Efficient for food waste. Needs to be buried to complete breakdown

In ground composter. Breaks down pet waste efficiently

Odour Levels

Nil if maintained correctly

Nil if maintained correctly

Nil if maintained correctly

Nil if maintained correctly

Cost

(rough guide only)

Unit: $20-$500

Maintenance: No cost once set up

Unit: $20-$250

Maintenance: $5-$10 (dolomite lime)

Unit: $60-$250

Maintenance: $10-$20 (Bokashi mix/ spray)

Unit: $70-$80

Maintenance: $10-$25 (EnsoPet starter)

Type of fertiliser created

Solid

Solid and liquid

Liquid

Solid

Compost units

Worm farms

Bokashi bins

EnsoPet Pet Waste Composter

Vegetables

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Citrus/ onions

Yes

Small amounts

Yes

No

Meat and bones

Yes

No

Yes

No

Dairy

Yes

No

Yes

No

Coffee and tea

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Egg shells

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Garden waste

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Pet waste

Yes for herbivorous pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.)

Yes but must be in a separate unit for meat eating pets

No

Yes

Paper and cardboard

Yes

Yes - Shredded

Yes - Small amounts

No

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The City of Armadale acknowledge the Traditional Owners and the Custodians of the land upon which we stand, work and play.

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Peoples of this land and their connection to the lands and the waters, as they are part of them spiritually and culturally.

We acknowledge their ancestors, the Elders past and present, who have led the way for us to follow.