About the online tutorial

Who is the tutorial for?

Anyone can do the tutorial but only residents of Hornsby Shire Council are eligible to receive the half price voucher and only Hornsby Shire residents can join the Hornsby Compost Revolution . If your council is not already participating ask your council to join the revolution.

What is the tutorial about?

The tutorial is designed to give you a basic understanding of how to compost or wormfarm effectively. It does not go into the science of compost or any gardening information. Council regularly organise FREE Compost and Wormfarm workshops which are also a good option if you want to learn about it in more detail. To find out about upcoming workshops visit www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/waste .

What do I need to do to get my half price voucher?

First off, you must be a resident of a Hornsby Shire Council; Once you complete the quiz with a score of 100% you will be asked to register your name, address and e-mail and you will receive a confirmation e-mail with details on how to get your half price voucher. This e-mail will be vaild for two months after which you will need to re-do the quiz.  Staff at the Council will be checking to ensure that only one one half price voucher is received per household.

What if I fail the quiz?

You can attempt the quiz as many times as you need to pass, and you can return to the tutorial to find the answers.

Is anything else required of me if I "Join the Compost Revolution"?

We encourage everyone who registers to tick the box to "Join the Compost Revolution". By joining the Compost Revolution you will be able to get ongoing support and be invited to events and workshops that are related to composting, organic gardening, cooking and food sustainability. The Compost Revolution is also about building community and supporting neighbourhood garden projects so you will be invited to social events and get-togethers.

Can more than one person in my household do the tutorial?

Multiple people in a household can do the tutorial and quiz multiple times, however only one person in a household can register to receive a half price voucher.

Can I do wormfarming and composting?

Doing both in a home can work well and you can do both the compost and wormfarming tutorial and quiz to learn how to do this. However, after you register you must choose either to receive a half price voucher for compost bin, wormfarm, worms or turner. If you want to do both you can buy a compost bin or wormfarm.

I live in an apartment with no balcony or garden space what are my options?

You can wormfarm in a garage or even a bathroom or kitchen. You will need to empty your worm liquid and solids occasionally and these can be used in pot plants or herb pots. Alternatively they can be given to a neighbour or friend, or find a nearby park or community garden give them to.

I don't need a new bin but I want to be part of the Compost Revolution, is this possible?

Yes, complete the quiz and register ticking the box to receive the updates, you will be invited to Compost Revolution events and programs.

I already know how to compost do I need to do the tutorial to get a half price voucher?

You don't need to do the tutorial but you do need to do the quiz to register for your half price voucher. The quiz is simple and quick and you can do it at your own pace.

What type of compost bins or wormfarms do we get?

This may vary depending on what council has in stock at the time you get your bin but the following are what is commonly in stock:
If you choose a compost bin you may receive:
• A "Tumbleweed" 220L conical bin
If you choose a wormfarm you may receive:
• A worm factory

How the Compost Revolution Began

The Compost Revolution began as a trial research project funded by a grant from the NSW Environmental Trust. The trial began with 600 households across the Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick Council areas, due to its success in these council areas and the potential for significant financial, environmental and social outcomes to all it is now spreading across Sydney.

To learn more about the Compost Revolution visit the Compost Revolution project page

If you find video demonstrations helpful, there is a great one on the Planet Ark website featuring Costa from Costa's Garden Odyssey.

Hornsby Shire Council

The average Hornsby Shire red lid garbage bin consists of 46% food scraps, which will be transported to landfill where it rots without air to form harmful greenhouse gases. Home composting or wormfarming are easy, fun and important ways of reducing the volume of these valuable materials going to landfill, cutting down on the associated greenhouse gases and returning nutrients back into the soil. By increasing the number of households that compost in our area we can reduce our ecological footprint and improve our local environment and community.

 The Compost Revolution includes the following components:

    • Voucher for half price compost bins, wormfarms, worms or turners for residents of Hornsby Shire who complete the on-line tutorial or attend a FREE compost and wormfarm workshop
    • Assistance for apartment blocks to home compost or wormfarm
    • Workshops on related themes such as organic gardening & cooking to avoid food waste
    • Q&A section on www.reduceyourfootprint.com.au for people to ask (and answer) questions or for support for composting projects
    • Events to celebrate community action, network and socialise including annual Compost Week celebrations

To learn more about the Compost Revolution visit the Compost Revolution project page

If you find video demonstrations helpful, there is a great one on the Planet Ark website featuring Costa from Costa's Garden Odyssey.

Contact Us

Waste Education Officers

Hornsby Shire Council

p: Waste Hotline 9847 4856

e: [email protected]

m: PO Box 37, Hornsby 1630