Composter Design Model  

 

   
 
Learning Targets:   
● We can analyze the changes in matter and energy that occur when organic matter is decomposed. 
● We can apply models to predict relationships between variables using sophisticated scientific terminology, and 
demonstrating an advanced understanding of the scientific ideas, principles and theories used. 
  
Team Members: Keiry  
 
Part 1: FORMING YOUR TEAM 
Describe the problem you will be trying to solve. What resources will you be trying to recover? How will you do it? 

The model is going to show that you can compost anywhere without using up a lot space or if you don't have enough 
materials to make a composter. This small and efficient composting design can create a good amount of compost if you 
plan to use it for small things like plants in pots. This design can also be good for someone who has never composted and 
wants to try it out by starting small since it'll be easier to handle. The compost will be going into a 2-3 liter water bottle 
which can be found anywhere, so you won't need to go out and buy materials. Since the compost is going into a small 
container you are able to keep it by the windowsill if you live in a crowded city or you don't have space.  
Composting will allow people to reduce the amount of organic material they are putting in the landfill. It will also 
reduce methane as a greenhouse gas since it won't be going into the landfill. Composting repurposes food scraps and 
other waste and turns it into something that can give nutrients to your plans and in the future even earn you money.   
 
 
What are the project requirements?  

It has to efficiently break down organic material and create compost that's full of nutrition. It has to also be something 
realistic that other people can use or do to no matter where they are. It has to be a model that won't disturb people with 
smell or space, also it needs to have a good Ph and be nutrient packed. 
 
PART 2: EVALUATING THE PROBLEM/CHALLENGE 
What constraints have been placed on your team?  

Creating a simple model that anyone can build using household items. Also deciding what organic matter to put in and 
how much, also making sure to had a 50/50 ration. The model had to make nutrient filled soil quickly, also making sure 
all the variables are correct and managed properly like moisture. 
 
 
 
 
 
Chemical Variable  How and why it needs to be controlled  Design Choice 
Needing Control 

Size of container  Size of the container matters because that means you  We are going to use a 2 liter water 
  have to put in more or less materials into and itll be  bottle because It's not too smalls and 
  harder to manage the bigger it is. Also depending on  will make a good amount of soil, but 
  how much space for it you need to have a container  also won' take up much space and will 
  that'll work for you.   be easy to manage. 
     
     
     
Moisture  The compost can't be too dry because then the  There has to be some moisture or the 
  microorganisms won't be able to break down the  material will not be able to break 
    material, but if it's too moist the it'll smell and rot.  down. 
     
Heat   Heat allows the microbes to work efficiently and also  Heat is needed to speed up the process 
  allows the material to decompose. If there's not heat  because it creates energy.  
  or energy then it won't break down. If there's too   
  much heat then it'll smell.   
     
Oxygen   Oxygen is needed to speed up the process and so it  Ogyen balances out the moisture and 
  won't rot. Also the microorganisms need oxygen.  smells and also keeps the organisms 
    alive 
     
     
Worms  The worms will help break down the material by  Worms will break down the material 
  eating it and then digesting it.   
     
     
Carbon to nitrogen  There has to be a balance so that the soil is rich and it  It will give the soil a good PH and it 
ratio  doesn't rot or smell or have a high PH balance.   won't smell back 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final list the materials you will use...  Materials you still need….. 

- Soil  - Drill 
- Worms 
- Food scraps 
- Newspaper 
- Yard waste 
- 2 Litter bottle  
- Water 
  
 
 
 
Management Plan :  
- Every other class the compost is going to be stirred to distribute the heat. 
- Compost will be slightly moistened as needed. 
- Organic matter will be added as needed. 
- Carbons such as leaves will be added as needed. 
 
 
Design Description  
 
Keiry Hiraldo

Mr. Haggerty

Chemistry

April 2016

Composting: Mechanics of life

There is a worldwide problem we are all facing that affects us all no matter where you live. All humans

produce waste which isn't a bad thing, but most people don't know to properly take care of their waste. Everyday

people cook and end up throwing away their food scraps into the garbage which will eventually end up in the landfill.

There are many problems with people sending away their food scraps to the landfill, such as it taking up

unnecessary space. For example, 50 percent of the waste in the Johnston landfill in Rhode island could of been

composted. If of that waste was composted the landfill would of been much smaller, and waste that actually can't be

recycled or composted could of gone there. Organic materials create methane, so there wouldn't have been as much

methane which is a greenhouse gas in the landfill. Although Methane is a greenhouse gas, It can be used to produce

energy, the leachate that come out of the compost contains Methane. The leachate can be sold to companies likes

national grid to produce energy which can potentially allow you to earn money. Not only would the municipalities

have saved money from not sending that waste into, but also the people because composting create and saves

money. This not only is a problem in Rhode Island, but in every state, country and continent. We all produce trash,

too much of it to be exact, sooner or later we are going to run out of space to put it in. Why make organic matter take

up space in the landfill when it can be composted and used for greater things.

Composting is something that everyone should be doing. There is no reason for organic material which can

be repurposed to nourish the soil, to be sent to a landfill to take up more space. Many people see composting as

gross or hard to do when it's actually not. Our model shows how easy composting can be no matter where you are, it

also shows how you can keep your compost under control to get a good outcome. Some people don't compost

because of limited space, they think you need a huge bin but you don't. Our composter is made of a 2 liter soda

bottle, not only is it small portable container, but you’re also reusing and saving money. The small size makes the

model easier to manage also, for those who don't have a lot of experience with composing. We made the model
simple and used household items, to show that you don't need a fancy composter and buy materials for it to work

completely fine. For the composter all that was needed to build it is, as mention before, the 2 liter soda bottle, a

plastic container for catch the leachate, a plastic spoon to stir the compost and a tool to drill in holes. The holes in

the bottle allow the compost to get air which contains oxygen, also so the leachate can leak out, this solves the

problem with the compost smelling bad since it is stabilizing it. We also decided to make this an Aerobic composter

because oxygen is needed to properly break down the organic matter. When the organic matter is exposed to air the

bacteria and organisms stay alive, the temperature is regulated and the compost will degrade quicker. The

temperature has to stay at a certain degree so the organisms are staying alive, and so that pathogens do not form.

Getting air and allowing the leachate to get out prevents the compost from getting too wet and getting moldy. The

plastic spoon in the model serves to stir the compost to distribute the heat that is usually and the middle layer and to

mix up the material so it can all be evened out. Another essential part to composting is having the right amount of

different organic materials so the compost can have a balanced PH and be nutrient full. In our composter we made

sure to make it a 50/50 carbon to nitrogen ratio, This balances out the PH and makes sure the compost doesn't

smell. We used paper, leaves and twigs to get the carbon, we also precisely places carbon material at the top to

serve as an insulator. Since the model is small you won't need to continuously add in materials and be more cautious

about the amount of material you put in. In the model we also added in an inch or so outdoor soil to get the

composting going and to get microorganism from the soil in the composter. The microorganisms are what break up

the materials, and you don't even need to go out in and buy organisms, since they are located in the soil from

outside. We also added in red wiggler worms which will further break down the materials and speed things up a bit.

Energy is also produced in this process, when the organic matter is breaking down, and when organisms in it die

CO2 is released. Without oxygen then there won't be any energy since oxygen is needed to create CO2. Another

reason why oxygen is important is that it contains Nitrogen. Nitrogen plays a big role in composting because it build

cell structure, without it components like amino- acids, proteins and enzymes won't be available, which are needed

for the growth and function of cells. Composting isn't hard, the more you do it the better you get at it and the more

you can produce. What's a better outcome than creating nutrient packed soil for your garden or even to sell it.

Sending it to the landfill is a waste for the amazing outcomes it has, it's basically throwing away money.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Project ​Assessment
Project Components:
❏ Individual Design Description
❏ Includes ​Two sections, The Problem and The Design Description  
❏ Physical model​ created either by group or individual. Image and design is uploaded into
individual report
❏ Conceptual Flow Diagram Model​ group or individual image uploaded into report
❏ Management Plan

Organic Chemistry Content Checklist:

Part 1: The​ Problem includes in your own words 
❏ the food waste problem in your own words 
❏ Explain the relevance of space, methane as a GHG the the potential value  
❏ How your system is going to recover value and why. 
❏ Why did you select a composting/anaerobic digestion system vs. a 
composting/anaerobic digestion system? 
Part 2: The Design Description includes 
❏ An explanation of the specific design choices that were made to control ​each 
chemical variable in the system 
For example:“We decided to …….so that our system would….” 
❏ The design description predicts the types of chemical reactions that will occur 
(anaerobic vs aerobic)
Standards Rubric
Exemplary Meeting Developing Beginning

Organic Contains all of the criteria
Chemist described in the checklist,
ry addressing every variables
Content in the system ​organic
chemistry consent
Contains all but two of Is missing more than Has less than
the criteria described in two of the criteria half of the
the checklist. May be described in the criteria described
missing one important checklist. Is missing
on the organic
variables. more more than one
chemistry
 checklist above. variable. consent checklist
above.

Developi Students can develop or Students can develop Students attempt to Students attempt
ng and apply models to predict or apply models to develop or apply to develop or
using relationships between predict relationships models to predict apply models to
variables using
models between variables relationships predict and show
sophisticated scientific
to terminology.
using correct and between variables. relationships
understa appropriate scientific The explanation between with
nd and The explanation terminology. The demonstrates a limited success.
solve demonstrates an advanced explanation basic understanding
problem understanding of the demonstrates an of the scientific
s scientific ideas, principles understanding of the ideas, principles
and theories used. scientific ideas, and theories used.
principles and
theories used.

Communication is Communication is Communication Student attempts

Scientific clearly focused leading focused leading to a leads to a goal. to communicate
commun to a well defined goal defined goal or Communication is focused
icat- or purpose. Scientific purpose. supports the leading to a
ion and communication Communication purpose with defined goal or
Writing supports the purpose supports the purpose details. purpose with
with concise, logical with logical details Communication is little to no
details that meet the that meet the readers’ arranged with text evidence.
readers’ needs, that is needs. and/or graphics.
arranged in a format Communication is Some words
that is effective with arranged in a format convey the
text and/or graphics that is effective, with intended message.
that are appropriate. text and/or graphics
that are appropriate.