Montreal's Concordia University had a slithery little ceremony two weeks ago as the recycling coordinator introduced a vermiculture programme to turn vegetable matter into rich, garden-ready compost.
The university's cafeteria services and its student cafe will separate their food waste from now on and all the worms will have to do is eat. The Red Wigglers (named after a species of worm) were donated by staff and students.
Once the project gets going and the worms reproduce, they may be put up for adoption and begin eating beyond the confines of the university.