Was the Compostable Bag Change Really Necessary?

For my project, I will be comparing the compostability of the city's compostable bags, and the compostablilty of the classic paper bags to determine which is safer for the enviorment.
Sara Saric
Grade 8

Presentation

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Hypothesis

I hypothesize that the paper bags will compost faster than the green 'compostable' bags. I hypothesize that the green 'compostable' bags will compost slower than the paper bags, and/or not compost at all in the span of time given.

Research

Variables

Controlled variable(s): Size of objects composting, amount of dirt in each container, size of containers, temperature containers are kept in,place containers are kept in.

Manipulated variable: Type of matter that is composting. Ex: Compostable bag, paper bag.

Dependant variable, or what is changing: The time it takes for each object to compost.

Procedure

Materials you'll need: Compostable green bag, Paper bag, 8 plastic part cups, kitchen measuring tools, scissors, Soil/organic compost, Cardboard shoe box (optional)

Step 1: Grab your coop compostable bag and cut 4 3x3 cm squares with your scissors.

Step 2: Repeat step 1 with the paper bag

Step 3: Grab your 8 plastic party cups and fill each one with 1.5 cups of soil.

Step 4: Set your coop compostable squares flat in 4 of the cups

Step 5: Repeat step 4 with the paper bag squares

Step 6: Lable

Observations

Things I observed WHILE MAKING my project:

-The compostable liners were very thin compared to the thick paper bags.

-The compostable liners stretched both ways, the paper bags didn't.

-The paper bags absorbed water, whilst the compostable liners were nearly hydrophobic and repelled water

-The compostable liners curled up when they made contact with the soil.

Things I observed AFTER setting up

-Mold started to grow on the paper bags a few days after watering/setting up. There was mold on the green compostable bags aswell, but not as much as there was on the paper bags.

 

Analysis

Conclusion

Application

Sources Of Error

Citations

Acknowledgement

Attachments

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