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Composting—Questions to Think About
Possible Research Questions

1. What is biomass?
2. How is compost useful?
3. How does plant material decompose?
4. How is compost made?How long does decomposing take?
5. How can I tell if decomposition is taking place?
6. How do I use the compost I made?
7. How much of our town’s biomass is going into the landfill?How far does it travel (what is the cost per mile)?
8. What are the hauling fees (what does it cost per cubic yard)?
9. Where does it come from (household vs. industrial)?
10. How much biomass is produced per household?
11. What proportion of garbage could be diverted from the waste stream and made into compost?
12. Would diverting garbage from the waste stream save money?
13. What would the monetary savings be?
14. Locally, what agencies support composting? How?
15. How can compost conserve natural resources?
16. What are some other major uses for composting, beyond backyards?
17. What are other communities doing with composting projects?
18. What are the problems, costs, and major issues involved in large community composting projects?
19. How can composting reduce the use of pesticides or restore contaminated soil?
20. How can compost control erosion and manage storm water?

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