Why Compost
Divert from Landfills
Your garbage is about 40 per cent organic waste — composting keeps all that garbage out of the landfill.
Reduce Global Warming
Organic wastes that end up in landfills decompose without oxygen and produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Keep Trucks off the Road
Less waste in the garbage means fewer collection trucks on the road.
Grow Healthy Plants
Plants love it — compost is a nutrient-rich fertilizer that helps soil retain moisture.
About Worm Composting
Two great things about worm composting are that you can do it even if you don't have a yard, and you can do it year-round.
If you do it right, there will be no smell or pests so composting with worms is the ideal way to compost indoors.
After your bin is well-established, your food waste can be turned into rich soil for your potted plants or your garden within days.
You can get started today. Order worms for pickup from a convenient downtown location.
Opaque bin with air-holes and lid.
Moist shredded newspaper
No meat or fats
Red wigglers are best suited for composting food waste.
Latest News and Tips
No Yard? No Problem. Six Steps to Composting Indoors
Composting food scraps with red wiggler worms, also known as vermicomposting, is an excellent way to reduce household waste and create nutrient-rich soil for plants. However, if you live in Toronto without a yard or outdoor space, you may be wondering how to get started. Here are some tips for managing food scraps with red Read more about No Yard? No Problem. Six Steps to Composting Indoors[…]
What Do Red Wigglers Prefer to Eat?
Red Wiggler composting worms, also known as Eisenia fetida, are one of the most popular species of worms used for vermicomposting, the process of composting with the help of worms. They are voracious eaters and can process a large amount of organic waste, making them ideal for converting kitchen scraps and yard waste into rich, Read more about What Do Red Wigglers Prefer to Eat?[…]
How this New York Company Turns Local Food Scraps into Soil
A pioneering New York-based company, Community Compost Company, is proving that food waste can be managed by turning it into high-quality compost. This not not only helps reduce the amount of food waste going into regional landfills, but also supports regional soil health by providing locals with a valuable resource for improving soil quality and Read more about How this New York Company Turns Local Food Scraps into Soil[…]
How Eggshells Benefit Worm Composting
Eggshells can be a great addition to worm composting because they are rich in calcium, which is an essential nutrient for worms. The calcium in the eggshells can help to balance the pH of the compost and make it more alkaline, which is ideal for the worms, especially if they are overfed. Additionally, the calcium Read more about How Eggshells Benefit Worm Composting[…]
Where to Buy Native Plants in Toronto
Are you planning your backyard garden? Planting with natives is a really important way to protect biodiversity in the city. Even planting a few natives is a great place to start. Here are a few ways ways to find native plants in Toronto: Native plants now at Loblaws Garden Centres Thanks to a partnership with WWF and Carolinian Canada Read more about Where to Buy Native Plants in Toronto[…]
Announcing Partnership With Karma Co-op
Covid-19 closures affected us but we are open again! You will be able to pick up your worms near Bathurst and Bloor at the Karma Co-op grocery store. Founded in 1972, Karma Co-op is a member-owned, democratically run co-operative, specializing in organic, local, fair trade and zero waste products. Learn more about Karma Co-op below: Read more about Announcing Partnership With Karma Co-op[…]
Compost for Earth Day 2020
Earth Day is a call to action for the global community to address climate change, foster a sustainable, healthy environment and protect our planet for future generations. Improve your Environmental Literacy with worms this spring! Consider that up to one half of waste sent to landfills can be digested by worms, according to a Read more about Compost for Earth Day 2020[…]
From Tea Bags to Tomato Plants – the Greening of CSI Annex
Thanks to a bursary from the Landscape Ontario Toronto Chapter, we have just completed a year long project to compost food waste at the Centre for Social Innovation Annex (CSI) with a state-of-the-art flow-through Hungry Bin vermi-composter. Though it took quite a while for the worms to multiply such that significant amounts of food waste could be processed, Read more about From Tea Bags to Tomato Plants – the Greening of CSI Annex[…]
Worms Eat Leftover Lunches at the University of Toronto
Congratulations to Anthony Davison, Communications Assistant of Procurement Services, for initiating a worm composting program in his office at the University of Toronto. When asked if it was difficult to convince his coworkers to accept worms on the floor, he says that some of them were interested, and others, including his director, said “As long Read more about Worms Eat Leftover Lunches at the University of Toronto[…]
Composting with Worms in Winter
Worm composting is one of the only composting solutions that Canadians have for the winter months. Adding food scraps to a frozen pile of compost outdoors is ineffective and often no fun indeed! But luckily worm composting can be done indoors. One would think that collecting food waste indoors would be a smelly operation. Surprisingly, Read more about Composting with Worms in Winter[…]
The Early Bird Conquers the Worm Bin
With the fall approaching, consider setting up your worm bin today so that you have learned how to manage your bin before taking it indoors in winter. Red worms are not native to Toronto and will not survive well outdoors during our winter. Worm bins can be easily managed inside so that they don’t smell Read more about The Early Bird Conquers the Worm Bin[…]
Vancouver Does it Right
The city of Vancouver teaches residents how compost their food scraps with worms. Below, Lauren shows you the basics of worm composting. City Farmer, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, teaches worm composting to hundreds of Vancouver residents every year at The Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden and at local schools. Watch her video on harvesting below: Read more about Vancouver Does it Right[…]
Ted-Ed Creates Animation about Vermicompositing
TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Matthew Ross details the steps we can all take to vermicompost at home — and why it makes good business sense to do so. Nearly one third of our food ends up in the trash can. There is hope, however, Read more about Ted-Ed Creates Animation about Vermicompositing[…]
The City of Toronto Recommends Worm Composting
According to the city of Toronto, worm composting “is a very convenient way of composting for apartment dwellers, school staff and students, persons with disabilities, office workers, elderly persons and anyone else who would have difficulty maintaining an outdoor compost pile.” Read more here.