Worms at Work is redefining how we think about food waste.
Created by Zoe Wang (Upsoil Collective) and Michael Mobbs (The Off Grid Guy), winners of the 2024 Fishermans Bend Digital Innovation Challenge, the project turns composting into a shared and visible part of city life.
Each bench combines worm farming, planting and smart sensors to make composting simple, social and data-driven.
Instead of hiding waste behind closed bins, the benches bring the process out of backyards and into public view, inviting residents and businesses to take part.
The compost and nutrient-rich castings produced are reused locally on plants and gardens.
Smart sensors measure compost temperature, moisture, and soil health, providing real-time data to help maintain the benches and understand their impact.
This pilot supports Melbourne’s goal of becoming a Regenerative City, testing how design and technology can create more circular, resilient, and productive neighbourhoods.
Worms at Work officially launched with an event that brought together community members, collaborators and supporters.
Watch the video below to see how the pilot came to life.
Pilot locations and local champions
Three Worms at Work benches are now installed across Fishermans Bend and Yarra’s Edge, each one testing composting in a unique urban setting.
Together, they’re supported by business and community champions who maintain the benches, collect food waste, and help the worms thrive.
Where to find them
- ST. ALi Coffee Roasters – 2B/706 Lorimer Street, Port Melbourne
Managed by the ST. ALi team, this bench sits just inside the café’s main gates. It receives plenty of sun and regular food waste from the café’s kitchen. - Yarra’s Edge Bench – River Esplanade near 18 Pence Lane Café
Managed by residents and community champions, this bench enjoys full sun and open airflow, perfect conditions for worm activity and composting of residents’ kitchen scraps. - Susuro Urban Winery – 134/15 Hall Street, Port Melbourne
Managed by the Susuro team with help from nearby businesses and customers, this slimmer-profile bench sits in a sheltered north-facing spot with steady sunlight.
Benches are located at the red markers on the map below. Use the top right navigation or your mouse roller to zoom in and out.
The details
This pilot aligns with the 'A Regenerative City' challenge by testing how technology and design can create more circular, resilient, and productive urban spaces. If successful, it could pave the way for new approaches to food waste management in Fishermans Bend and beyond.
City of Melbourne has a history of piloting new ideas and transparently educating and empowering the community. Pilots are useful to explore opportunities and impacts of new ideas with the community to help solve city challenges. A successful pilot encourages community to participate and share thoughts and ideas to help shape the solution and explore if innovations are feasible, viable, and desirable.
This pilot will be split into the following phases:
Phase 1: Defining the Vision (Approx. 2 months)
In this phase, we establish the project's scope, success measures, and evaluation framework. We define what will be delivered, set a preliminary budget, and create a roadmap for the pilot.
Phase 2: Co-Design & Planning (Approx. 4 months)
We engage with the community and key stakeholders to shape the project, finalise the design of the Worms at Work seat, and identify the supporting technology. This phase ensures that both functional and community needs are considered before moving into implementation.
Phase 3: Construct & Implementation (Approx. 5 months)
The seat is manufactured, integrating composting, worm farming, and sensor technology. Once installed at key locations in Fishermans Bend and Yarra’s Edge, the project moves into active operation, with local community members and businesses participating in its maintenance and use. Live data and insights will be shared with the public.
Phase 4: Learning & Next Steps (Approx. 6 months)
We evaluate the pilot’s impact by gathering data, community feedback, and lessons learned. A final report will summarise findings and recommendations, helping determine future opportunities for scaling or adaptation.
Two key events have helped shape and celebrate the Worms at Work pilot.
On 19 March 2025, we held a community session in Yarra’s Edge where residents and community members shared their ideas for making the benches safe, clean, and accessible for everyone. Their feedback helped guide the design and function of the benches.
On 16 October 2025, we marked the official launch of the pilot in Fishermans Bend. Community champions, local businesses, and project partners came together to see the benches in action, explore the live data dashboard, and celebrate this shared effort to reduce food waste and support a more circular city.
There are still plenty of ways for you to get involved:
- Join us at community events taking place at the bench locations.
- Try out the benches and learn how the composting system works.
- Share your thoughts and feedback to help us improve the experience.
Follow this page to stay updated on upcoming events, launch details, and other opportunities to get involved.
For questions, you can also contact the team at smart.cities@melbourne.vic.gov.au
You can provide feedback on any of the benches by completing the feedback form.
If you notice any issues such as damage, malfunction, or vandalism, please contact smart.cities@melbourne.vic.gov.au so we can follow up promptly.
With special thanks to:
- Ciro Giuliani from Mr Fox in a Box
- Terence Bergagna, Chelline (Graciella) Soejono and Tina Tran from Polynova
- Dave Goodman from Kensington Compost & LOCCAL
- Andrew Ligdopoulos from Eighteen Pence Lane Cafe
- Nikki Palun from Susuro Urban Winery
- Lucy Ward and the team at St Ali Coffee Roasters
- Krystle, Heather, Carolene, Greg and all the Yarra’s Edge resident ‘pilot champions’
- Byron Fisher from Isteamedu
- Alexis Pang from University of Melbourne
- Janette Corcoran from the Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd
You can provide feedback on any of the benches by completing the feedback form.
If you notice any issues such as damage, malfunction or vandalism, please contact smart.cities@melbourne.vic.gov.au so we can follow up promptly.
