Frequently asked questionS

For Households

Getting set up

Where’s the best place to put my worm farm?

Worm farms are best located close to the home so it’s easy to empty your food scraps container (you might hear us refer to this as a kitchen caddie). We like to find the sweet spot  where the worms are in the shade but you don’t need to remove your socks to feed them! 

Many of our members have them tucked just outside the house or garage and they are very happy. Your member manager will advise on the best location when they deliver and install your worm farm. 


When will my worm farms be set up?

Your local member manager will call or email you to arrange a time to get you set up. 

Setups often take place over one week of the month and invoicing begins once you are set up. 


What’s included in the set up?

Set up includes delivery of fully functioning worm farms to your household. Installation in and consultation on the best location for your worm farms. Printed instructions with best practices for feeding your worms, as well as the digital resources you receive with your welcome pack. 


How much does it cost?


How does invoicing work?

You’ll receive a one-off invoice for Delivery & Installation. Then you’ll receive quarterly ongoing invoices for your Membership. We send you the first invoice the same week we set you up, which puts us in the clear for the next three months. 


How do I pay for the service?

Payments are made through bank transfer. For memberships, set up a recurring payment for every 3 months. Use the bank details on your invoice or copied below:
38-9016-0422225-00 WHY WASTE LIMITED

Who do I contact if there’s an issue with my worm farm?

If you have any issues, contact your local member manager. It’s best to email them using the address listed below:

Auckland: sales@whywaste.co.nz
Bay of Plenty: bop@whywaste.co.nz 
Hamilton: hamilton@whywaste.co.nz 
Wellington: leo@whywaste.co.nz
Dunedin: dunedin@whywaste.co.nz  

How do I cancel my membership?

We understand circumstances may change, however if you’re unhappy with the service first reach out as we’d love to hear how we can improve. If you’re ready to cancel then simply email your local member manager and they’ll arrange a time to collect your worm farm. 

I’ve cancelled my membership, but I still have months I’ve paid for.

We pride ourselves on not having heavy handed contracts, however this three month invoicing period means that any cancellations before the end date will forfeit the remaining amount. We can arrange to collect your worm farm as close to the end of the 3 month billing cycle as possible.


Caring for your worm farm

How regularly is my worm farm serviced?

Your local membership manager or worm expert will manage your worm farm every 4-5 weeks. Variations occur between seasons.


How do I know what day my worm farm is being serviced?

You’ll receive an email from your member manager letting you know at least one day in advance when your worm farm is being serviced. 


What’s the best way to separate the waste?

Like other waste streams, it’s important to get our systems for separation right. We have containers available on request, or source your own. These are best located near where the waste is made, which is then transferred to the worm farm. Some people use ice cream containers, or larger Tupperware containers that slide under the kitchen sink, others use a kitchen caddy that sits on the bench. 


What should and shouldn’t go in the worm farm?

What to put in:

  • Paper and cardboard  

  • Most fruit & vegetable scraps 

  • Crushed eggshells

  • Teabags & coffee grounds

  • Untreated sawdust and wood ash

  • Hair and vacuum cleaner dust 

  • Soft garden waste like weeds, dry leaves or small amounts of lawn clippings

What to leave out:

  • Any plastics

  • Fat, grease and oils

  • Shiny or laminated paper & card

  • Meat & dairy products, including eggs

  • Starchy foods like bread, pasta and rice 

  • Citrus, spicy chilli, capsicum, onions and garlic 

  • Processed foods containing preservatives

  • Woody or spray treated garden waste

For more details read our blog What Goes in Your Worm Farm.



There’s liquid in the drip tray. Is this worm tea?

No, the liquid is called worm leachate. The drip tray may slowly fill with this. Feel free to add it to nearby plants. Worm tea is what you can make using the worm castings.



What is vermicast?

Vermicast is material produced in the worm farm, also called vermicompost. You may also hear it referred to as worm castings, worm castings is just another word for worm poo. Vermicast is actually a mixture of worm castings, partially composted wastes, and any resistant materials that won’t readily break down.



How do I collect the vermicast?

Emptying the solid vermicast from the worm farm is part of our service, if you’re on an Expert-managed Membership! If you’d like us to collect the vermicast for you, please provide a 20L bucket and we’ll empty the vermicast (worm castings) into the bucket. 

If you’re on a Self-managed Membership, and you’d like to do it yourself, watch this instructional video of Leo harvesting worm castings.



What do I do with the vermicast?

Vermicast is the key ingredient in worm tea and makes the best garden fertiliser. Learn how to use your vermicast in our Make Your Own Worm Tea article.



Are there meant to be other bugs in my worm farm?

Usually this isn’t a problem however, it may be a sign that something is out of balance. Part of our Expert-managed Membership is that you have an expert on-hand to support you when things need a tune up. If you have any concerns about the inhabitants of your worm farm, please just get in touch.



Do services still happen during Lockdowns?

Why Waste is an essential service, so we do have the ability to service worm farms during all lockdown levels, however we’ll only service worm farms during levels 3, 2 and 1. Our membership managers go hard and go early, so if your service week coincides with the start of a lockdown it’s possible it gets pushed back a week or two. If we do service your worm farm during lockdown, we’ll contact you first, and just let us know if you’d rather we don’t visit. Our membership managers will be wearing masks and gloves but please don’t approach them.