TRASH PIZZA PROJECT
Background: Each person generates an average of 4.5
pounds of trash each day. That is over 1,600 pounds of
trash per person, per year. Some of the solid waste is
reused or recycled, but most trash is buried in landfills. The
United States Environmental Protection Agency has found
that the kinds of things Americans throw away can be
placed into several main categories.
2010 Total Municipal Solid Waste Generation (by material)
250 million tons before recycling
TRASH CATEGORY
Paper and Paperboard
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Plastics
Metals
Rubber, Leather, and Textiles
Wood
Glass
Other
PERCENTAGE OF TRASH
28.5%
13.9%
13.4%
12.4%
9.0%
8.4%
6.4%
4.6%
3.4%
Objectives: Students will be able to
1. Describe the composition of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW);
2. Identify items within each waste category; and
3. Visualize the amount of waste and categories of MSW.
Method:
Students will construct a trash pizza (a three-dimensional pie chart) representing all of the
waste thrown away in the U.S., with a slice for each waste category. The loaded pizza will
have “everything on it”. Be creative as to how to decorate the pizza. Each slice must be
displayed and labeled with the Trash Category and the Percentage of Trash. The pie graph
(pizza slices) must be an accurate percentage of the pie graph. Below is a reference on
making accurate pie graphs. Since this is an Environmental Science class with a focus on
recycling, please create this project from recycled materials. See the below links for useful
information (remember to use the chart above for the percentages):
http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson59.html
http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Waste_in_Place_Sample
Pie Chart Reference:
1. Using the Municipal Solid Waste Trash Categories list and their percentages, convert each
percentage into degrees by multiplying it by 3.6, which is the number you arrive at when
you divide 360 (degrees in a circle) by 100 (total amount in percentage).
2. Add the total of all items to make certain that the total is at least 360 degrees. If not,
recalculate the degrees for each item.
3. Using your pizza circle, divide the circle into segments using the chart that you have just
created. Mark the number of degrees by drawing a line from the center to the edge. Line
this with the protractor as 0 degrees. Mark the number of degrees desired and draw a line
from the center.
4. Continue through your numbers, using the previously made line as the 0 degree beginning
and measuring out the necessary number of degrees for each category.
5. Label each section with the Trash Category and Percentage of Trash.
Grading:
Project will be graded per the grading rubric below. Projects turned in more than one day late
will result in a below average grade of zero for timeliness, however will receive credit for
completing the project. Students will only have 1 week after the project due date to turn the
project in. After 1 week late, students will receive a zero on the total project.
GRADING
CATEGORY
BELOW AVERAGE
AVERAGE
EXEMPLARY
TOTA
L
Project handed in more
Project handed in
than 1 day late
1 day late
Timeliness
0 points
10 points
Little or no effort in project,
Some effort in project,
Creativity
illegible writing, did not
legible writing, met some
meet requirements of the
requirements of the
and
project.
project.
Organization
0 – 10 points
10 - 15 points
Structure
Presentation
Little or no structure in the
design of the pie graph,
measurements are
incorrect, no clear vision
of final project
No movement,
displayed no eye
contact with audience,
little or no poise
Project handed in on
time
25 points
Effort is outstanding,
writing is neat, met
all requirements of
the project.
15 – 25 points
Outstanding structure
Some structure in the
and design of the pie
design of the pie graph,
graph,
some measurements are
measurements are
incorrect, has some
accurate, clear vision
vision of final project
of final project.
10 - 15 points
15 – 25 points
Little or sporadic
movement,
inconsistent eye
contact with audience,
displays little or no
nervousness
Movement is fluid,
holds attention of
audience, relaxed
and self-confident
References: www.kab.org (© Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 1996) and www.kid-at-art.com