Leading the Circular Economy category
“Worms Against Waste” is a practical, community-driven circular economy project that diverts food waste from landfill using vermiculture. Led by the ANU Kitchen Garden Program (KGP), the initiative established a central worm farm supported by workshops, student leadership, data tracking and staff partnerships. The worm farm transforms food waste from residences, academic buildings, and student hubs into nutrient-rich compost and worm tea, which is reused in the community garden. The program models a closed-loop system that combines climate action, sustainability education and grassroots behavioural change, aligning with ANU’s goal of achieving below zero emissions by 2030.
Environmental and Social Benefits
- Diverts food waste from landfill and regenerates it into compost and worm castings for use in the community garden, reducing carbon emissions and supporting soil health on campus.
- Supports biodiversity, sustainable food production and emissions reduction through an accessible, low-tech solution that has already expanded to multiple sites on campus and in student residences.
- Builds a sense of belonging and empowerment through hands-on education and volunteering, enabling students to take direct climate action and build lifelong sustainability habits.
Leadership and Engagement
- Developed and delivered by the Kitchen Garden Officer and Deputy Manager for Community Engagement, with strong collaboration from ANU staff, academic teams, and student volunteers.
- Attracted interest across campus, leading to sponsorship of a second worm farm and integration with existing sustainability initiatives.
- Delivered practical education through composting and vermiculture workshops, community events, and peer-to-peer learning, creating highly visible and replicable engagement opportunities.
Significance to the Sector
- Demonstrates how a small-scale circular economy project can deliver measurable environmental and educational outcomes, with potential for scalability across institutions.
- Integrates with ANU’s broader strategic goals, including the Sustainability Plan and below zero emissions target, offering a live demonstration of sustainable resource management.
- Plans to disseminate learnings through a publicly available composting guide, sector conferences, and open-source resources to support adoption by other universities and communities.
Wider Societal Impact
- Provides a replicable and inclusive model for community-led climate action through composting and food waste reduction.
- Strengthens local circular economy supply chains by sourcing equipment from aligned Australian businesses.
- Cultivates transferable sustainability skills in students, supporting graduate readiness and environmental citizenship.
Top 3 learnings
Supported by
Category finalists
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy category
“Worms Against Waste” is a practical, community-driven circular economy project that diverts food waste from landfill using vermiculture. Led by the ANU Kitchen Garden Program (KGP), the initiative established a central worm farm supported by workshops, student leadership, data tracking and staff partnerships. The worm farm transforms food waste from residences, academic buildings, and student hubs into nutrient-rich compost and worm tea, which is reused in the community garden. The program models a closed-loop system that combines climate action, sustainability education and grassroots behavioural change, aligning with ANU’s goal of achieving below zero emissions by 2030.
Top 3 learnings
Environmental and Social Benefits
- Diverts food waste from landfill and regenerates it into compost and worm castings for use in the community garden, reducing carbon emissions and supporting soil health on campus.
- Supports biodiversity, sustainable food production and emissions reduction through an accessible, low-tech solution that has already expanded to multiple sites on campus and in student residences.
- Builds a sense of belonging and empowerment through hands-on education and volunteering, enabling students to take direct climate action and build lifelong sustainability habits.
Leadership and Engagement
- Developed and delivered by the Kitchen Garden Officer and Deputy Manager for Community Engagement, with strong collaboration from ANU staff, academic teams, and student volunteers.
- Attracted interest across campus, leading to sponsorship of a second worm farm and integration with existing sustainability initiatives.
- Delivered practical education through composting and vermiculture workshops, community events, and peer-to-peer learning, creating highly visible and replicable engagement opportunities.
Significance to the Sector
- Demonstrates how a small-scale circular economy project can deliver measurable environmental and educational outcomes, with potential for scalability across institutions.
- Integrates with ANU’s broader strategic goals, including the Sustainability Plan and below zero emissions target, offering a live demonstration of sustainable resource management.
- Plans to disseminate learnings through a publicly available composting guide, sector conferences, and open-source resources to support adoption by other universities and communities.
Wider Societal Impact
- Provides a replicable and inclusive model for community-led climate action through composting and food waste reduction.
- Strengthens local circular economy supply chains by sourcing equipment from aligned Australian businesses.
- Cultivates transferable sustainability skills in students, supporting graduate readiness and environmental citizenship.
Supported by
Category finalists
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
Leading the Circular Economy
