make a compost pit urban of biological waste and write the observation before and after
Answers
Answer:
ok
Explanation:
Note: This experiment will take roughly three weeks to complete. Prior to the experiment (1-2 days), collect organic food matter (orange peels, excess fruit, egg shells, etc.). Place the materials in a plastic bag and then in the refrigerator to be used for the experiment.
Experiment Overview:
Take a minute to think about the food you throw away each day. The amount of food waste that ends up in the trash after breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time. Now, take that idea and think about how much food waste occurs in the United States each day! On average, Americans waste about a pound of food each day per person. That is one pound of food waste per person per day. With roughly 300 million people living in the United States, the amount of food wasted each day is huge.
1 (lb) of food multiplied by the U.S population 326,766,748 = A TON OF WASTE (163,383 tons to be exact)
The good thing about this food waste problem is that there is a rather simple solution called composting. Composting is the natural process of decomposition/recycling organic materials into rich soil. These organic scraps (vegetable peels, fruit waste, plant clippings, and grass cuttings) turn into a material called compost. The compost is rich in nutrients and wonderful for house plants, gardens, and other outdoor plants. There are also many other benefits to composting:
Reducing the waste in landfills, which directly links to the idea of “reduce, reuse, and recycle.”
Reduction of methane emissions from landfills which lowers our carbon footprint.
Reduces the need for commercial soil fertilizers (which also helps with water pollution).
Helps control soil erosion.
Composting happens naturally in forests when leaves fall and form a mulch-like layer that protects the soil. The leaves decay and decompose over time to create nutrients that feed the forest plants. This natural process can be replicated through the use of composting bins that can be placed in your own backyard. In this experiment, we are going to create a small composting bottle to visually show the composting process and better show how composting can reduce food waste and help the environment.
Experiment Materials:
Clear plastic bottle (pop bottle)
1 cup of fruit, vegetables, and other organic food waste from the kitchen
1 cup of leaves or grass clippings
1 cup of shredded paper
5 cups of potting soil
1 or 2 cups of water
Tape
Scissors or sharp object
Permanent marker
3 paper plates
1 large bowl
1 measuring cup
1 spoon or cup
Conclusions:
Now that we have the results from the experiment, let’s look at composting in a much more scientific manner. During the composting process, different microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) decompose the organic matter. The microorganisms break down the organic food items to produce a simpler substance called compost. It is important to note that composting needs oxygen, heat and water to be successful. These three elements help the microorganisms to multiply and survive. In this experiment, we added two of the main ingredients needed for composting:
Water – We added one to two cups of water at the beginning of the experiment
Heat – We placed the composting bottle in direct sunlight (remember- the sun is a renewable resource) and allowed the thermal heat to decompose the organic materials.
Note: Air was not added to this experiment because it would have hindered our ability to track the layers and visually see the decomposition. Aeration is the process of adding air to a composting bin through mixing and stirring.
While composting is a great way to reduce the amount of food waste sent to local landfills, it can only be used with organic food waste. Composting alone will not eliminate all food waste in the United States, however, it will help our planet by reducing methane gas emissions and lessen the number of materials sent to landfills. Ultimately, composting is a great way to create a healthier world while also decreasing our carbon footprint. Can you think of other ways to help reduce landfill waste? Examine ways to “reduce, reuse, and recycle” some of the items that end up in the trashcan after a long day of eating and snacking