Council worm farm turns food waste into fertilizer

Four tonnes of food waste has been turned into garden fertilizer by the wriggly occupants of the Hastings District Council worm farm.

The worm farm was started four years ago to reduce the amount of food scraps being thrown away from council office buildings. In 2006 40% of waste from council office buildings was food scraps; with a comprehensive recycling system this has been reduced to 16%.

Waste Minimisation Planner Angela Atkins says ‘now all coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit and vegetable scraps and other food waste such as sandwiches are fed to our worms instead of going in the bin’.

‘The worms eat the food waste and produce vermicast and worm tea, which has high levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium compared to ordinary soil. This makes them valuable for plants' leaf growth, root and stem strength and flower and fruit set’.

This Friday all excess worm casts will be removed and given to staff members to feed their home gardens.”

The farm will then be restarted by placing the worms on a new bed of wet newspaper and food scraps. This activity will allow the worms enough space to devour the next four years of food scraps.

Mrs Atkins says” worm farms don't need much space so are ideal if you only have a small backyard. Kids love the ‘yuck factor and learning experience of a worm farm. Most kitchen waste can be placed in a worm farm and you get all the same benefits as regular composting.”

“Worm farming uses the same principles as composting, but does not generate heat and when looked after properly does not cause smells” Mrs Atkins says.

“Council’s ten year plan has a focus on sustainable development of the region and the council worm farm is a demonstration of how recycling waste can help with the production of future crops.”

More information on how to start a worm farm is available at http://www.susd.org.nz/gardening