Design a Landfill (Brie-anna Molina)

Author(s)

Brie-anna Molina, North Hollywood High School Zoology Magnet

NGSS Engineering Standards

HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.

HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

NGSS Engineering Standards

PROBLEM - How can we design a model of a sanitary landfill to explore how everyday items breakdown?

DESIGN - Students must design a landfill that prevents leachate from escaping and animals from getting into the contents.

OPTIMIZATION - Students will measure any leachate coming out of their landfill and, when they excavate their landfill, they can decide how to change and adapt their landfill to be more sanitary.

Materials needed

• 2L bottles

• food waste

• plastic waste

• paper waste

• plastic bags

• rubber bands

• CONSTRAINTS: no dairy, no complete seal, must have means of collecting leachate

Procedure

Questions

• Can items decompose in a landfill?

  • When they are still being filled, landfill contents are exposed to air enough for aerobic bacteria to decompose items. However, once sealed, landfills can no longer provide air for aerobic bacteria so decomposition ceases.

• What would be a challenge if items decompose in a landfill?

  • As food decomposes and some of the matter is consumed, the landfill will sink and shrink, which can cause issues for building on top off completed landfills.

• What would be a challenge if items do not decompose in a landfill?

  • We will eventually run out of land to bury our trash.

Photos

Movies

Include movies that you have taken. Your movies should be placed in your youtube account.

References

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