Free compost bins and worm farms to help Ipswich households cut waste
Published on 08 May 2026
Ipswich households can access free compost bins and worm farms under a new Ipswich City Council Organics at Home initiative aimed at reducing the amount of household waste sent to landfill.
The program, launching during International Compost Awareness Week from 3 to 9 May, helps Ipswich residents divert food waste from landfill.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the Organics at Home initiative complemented council’s existing efforts to reduce waste, including the free green bin collection service and free green waste weekends.
“Council’s Organics at Home program provides free home organics units and community education to further help residents do their part right in their own backyard,” Mayor Harding said.
“This initiative supports our Resource Recovery Strategy while allowing residents to get more value from their household organics, create healthy soils for their gardens, and save money on fertilisers.”
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said residents had already shown strong support for reducing waste through the successful rollout of the Garden Organics (GO) green bin program last year.
“More than 56,000 green-lidded GO bins were provided at no cost to ratepayers to households across Ipswich in mid-2025, with around 90,000 households now helping convert garden waste into valuable compost rather than being tipped into landfill,” Mayor Harding said.
“Households have embraced the GO bins, in the first six months alone diverting 10,000 tonnes of green waste from landfill, delivering real environmental benefits while helping reduce costs for ratepayers.
“This has been an overwhelmingly positive start to the three-bin system for our city as we respond to the Queensland Government’s waste levy on councils of $125 per tonne of waste sent to landfill, which is set to rise year on year.”
Organics at Home allows eligible Ipswich residents to order, from today, one free compost bin or worm farm, which council will deliver directly to their address. These deliveries will commence in June 2026.
Council’s website has instructions to help residents get started, there will be a link to these on the compost bin or worm farm provided.
“There are two options residents can choose from, depending on their household needs. The compost bin is best for homes with both kitchen scraps and garden waste,” Mayor Harding said.
“With the right mix of organic waste, a compost bin or worm farm produces nutrient‑rich fertiliser that can be used to improve soil health and support plant growth in home gardens, potted plants, lawns and vegetable patches.
“The worm farm is ideal for small spaces or homes without garden waste, turning daily food scraps into nutrient-rich castings and liquid fertiliser for plants.”
Residents can learn more and order their free compost bin or worm farm by searching ‘Organics at Home’ on council’s website.