How to Build a Landfill as a School Project
Landfills around the world are becoming fuller and fuller of garbage. Although the concept of a landfill is based on the fact that objects break down over time, the reality is not that simple. Some materials need a very long time in order to disintegrate, and others do not break down at all. You can do a school project to identify which objects break down easily in a landfill and which ones do not.
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Things You'll Need
- Empty glass aquarium
- Potting soil
- Objects from the garbage can
- Water
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
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1
Fill the aqarium with soil until it is about halfway full.
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2
Add several pieces of garbage to the soil. Examples of good garbage for this school project include some pieces of newspaper, a plastic bag, a disposable diaper, an apple core and a chicken bone. List the items you are including in your landfill.
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3
Cover the objects with additional soil so that the aquarium is almost full. Sprinkle water over the top layer of soil.
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4
Cover the top of the aquarium with a piece of plastic wrap. Place the aquarium in a warm area.
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5
Remove the objects from the landfill two weeks later, and then two months later, and examine them under a magnifying glass. Identify which ones changed the most, and which ones did not change at all.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a prediction beforehand about how each object in the landfill will change. At the end of the project, compare your predictions with your results.
Discuss whether disposable diapers and other objects should be advertised as being biodegradable.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
