8+Science+3+Rhodes'+MSW+Project

Rhodes Marley 8-3 3-1-2010


 * How Much Waste Is Caused By Plastic Cafeteria Straws**


 * Procedure**

1. Go to cafeteria 2. Go to lnch lines with counter and count how many straws are used 3. Ask Van how much a pack of straws is 4. Write down data 5. Go back to classroom and calculate the price per straw 6. Go online and look for compostable, bio-degradeable, or eco- friendly straws and calculate the price of eac straw 7. Over the next few days,monitor how many straws are used, and see if the same amounts are used each day 8. Order eco-friendly straws and see the difference in the amount of waste.


 * Introduction**

In Science class we are learning about municipal solid waste. To help understand this subject, we were assigned a project on municipal solid waste found around the campus. the purpose of this project is to find the producer of municipal solid waste and try to change it by coming up with a report and finding alternatives to help end this problem. if we use eco-friendly straws in the cafeteria, then the amount of municipal solid waste on the campus will decrease.

Counters Straw
 * Materials**

Slipping and falling in cafeteria
 * Saftey Concerns**


 * Safety Guidelines**
 * 1,#12,#25,#26


 * Data Table:**

Our hypothesis was supported. When we found out how many straws we use during the year, and calculated how much weight that contributed to, it ended up being 56 pounds of weight. If we use compostabe straws, that will be 56 less pounds of waste in our trash, and will help the environment. One of the problems in our experiments was our data collection. We tried to collect from all of the grades in the middle school, but since we only had science 5th period twice, which only gave us two chances to get the full lunches recorded. A solution to the problem is to buy compostable straws that are good for the environment, reduces waste form CCDS, and saves CCDS money.
 * Number of Straws Used in Cafeteria During Lunch ||  ||   ||
 * Grades 6-8 || 6th Grade || 7th Grade || 8th Grade ||
 * Number of Straws Day1 || 48 || 15 || 51 ||
 * Number of Straws Day2 || N/A || 39 || 37 ||
 * Average Straw Use || 38 ||  ||   ||
 * Analysis:**
 * Predictions of Straw Use ||  ||
 * Straw Mass(g) || 1 ||
 * Days in School Year || 169 ||
 * Average Straw/ Year || 25,350 ||
 * Average Mass of Straws/ Year(lb.) || 56 ||
 * Conclusion:**

www.2wplastic.com/pla_**straws**.htm