Worm Composting

The City of Glendale is now providing substantial discounts on worm or vermicomposting bins. These are ideal for apartment and condominium residents who have lots of kitchen scraps but no yard trimmings for a backyard compost bin.

Any Glendale resident that attends one of the City's compost workshops can obtain either a Wriggly Wranch self-harvesting vermicompost bin for only $25 (less than half price) or a free backyard compost bin and pitchfork (requires yard trimmings). Vermicompost bins produce a top-of-the-line soil amendment with little effort.

The Wriggly Wranch Worm Factory is 15" wide, 23" long, and 25" high and should be kept in a shaded location, either indoors or outdoors. While bedding material comes with the bin, worms are not provided and can be obtained from the list of worm suppliers (usually $10-$20 for one pound, or ask someone with a backyard compost bin for some of their worms). Worm bins and worms are free to Glendale classrooms.

Vegetative food scraps are added in the top of the bin and covered with wet newspaper. Worms come up to eat the food, while their castings fall to the bottom of the bin, where they can be harvested. There has been a working demonstration bin in the Integrated Waste Management office for many years. It has become an odorless attraction for the many visitors interested in seeing our worms at work.

To receive a bin, attend one of the worm composting workshops held in conjunction with the backyard composting workshops 14 times a year at our Yard at 548 W. Chevy Chase Drive.