Recycling and municiple solid waste

Objective

By making a "trash pizza" with each slice representing one portion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the United States, students will gain an appreciation for the categories and amount of waste in their communities and the importance of recycling.

trash pizza experiment

Materials

Mixing bowl, spoon, rolling pin, 12-inch pizza pan, small paint brush, 2 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 3/4 cup water, shortening, red food coloring, glue, and waste items from categories represented in the accompanying MSW pie chart (Note: "other" category includes food waste).

Procedure

  1. Mix flour, salt and water into dough. Flatten dough into well-greased pizza pan. Cut pizza into slices representing percentages in MSW pie chart (Note: pizza will be very difficult to slice after cooking).
  2. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool. Dough should be hard.
  3. Mix glue and red food coloring. Apply to pizza with small brush.
  4. Divide pizza into sections and glue on corresponding toppings with uncolored glue.

Discussion points

  • What category occupies more landfill space than any other?
  • What two categories fill more than half our landfill space?
  • What other wastes could be included in your pizza?
  • What can you do to help reduce waste in your community?

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