Waste and compost · Build the waste infrastructure · waste-10

Set up a worm bin

A worm bin turns kitchen scraps into rich castings in a small space, works indoors in hot or cold weather and is a good add-on to a compost heap.

How

Use composting worms (Eisenia fetida, red wigglers) from a worm farm, not bait shops, which may sell invasive species.
Size the bin at about 0.2 m2 (2 sq ft) of surface per person and 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) deep; shallow and wide works better than deep and narrow.
Use a dark, lidded bin with small drainage holes in the base and vent holes near the top, standing on spacers in a tray to catch liquid.
Fill with 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) of damp bedding: shredded plain paper, leaves, cardboard or old compost, wrung out like a sponge.
Start with about 0.5 kg (1 lb) of worms per 0.1 m2 (1 sq ft) of surface.
Do not use pressure-treated wood, cedar, cypress or redwood for a wooden bin.

Vermicomposting: Composting with Worms. Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed 2026-11
Vermicomposting Puts Worms to Work. Penn State Extension, accessed 2026-11