Day 50 Biodegradable Experiment

Sorry for many days of delay in the experiment - we have had a busy couple months with closing one store, opening a new Cafe and having a baby girl. Due to the many excitements taking place, the experiment did not go as planned with taking photos everyday and having the proper composting elements, but when I did take these last photos at the 50 Day mark it did prove the process of biodegrading and non-biodegrading. Please view the pictures below:

Final pictures of the aquarium with the composting matter and cups.

After 50 Days in Composting Aquarium - NO Changes in the Styrofoam cup - No signs of Biodegrading.

After 50 Days in Composting Aquarium - the two pictures above of the common paper coffee shop cup had the outside paper decompose, but the petro-based wax coating was in full contact showing no signs of biodegrading.

After 50 Days in Composting Aquarium - the biodegradable hot cup was decomposed about 90% to a very little scrap of vegetable based wax coating. This proves that the vegetable based wax coating and paper cup will biodegrade and if given the proper conditions would 100% within the 50 days.

Day 15 Biodegradable Experiment

Today, I noticed some changes in the cups, so I took them out and took individual photos of each. See below.

Styrofoam cup - no changes

Coffee shop cup - dis-colouration, but no decomposing

Biodegradable hot cup - hole at bottom - biodegrading begins

Plastic Cup - no change at all

Plastic Cup - no changes

Biodegradable Plastic Cup - dirt and worms attached in thick clumps cannot see any holes or decomposing of the cup yet.

Day 13 and 14 Biodegradable Experiment

The Green Shift logo on the paper cup has started to fade away (vegetable based ink), you can also see the paper on the coffee shop cup turning more brown. The clear cup is difficult to observe due to the soil in the cup making it transparent.

Day 12 Biodegradable Experiment

This is Day 12 picture taken 14 hours after Day 11 - Friday night 9:30pm to make up for the missed picture on Thursday. Added moisture. No changes observed.

Day 11 Biodegradable Experiment

As we were at the hospital at 7:30am Thursday morning having a baby, this picture was taken Friday morning at 7:30 (taking place for Thursday Day 11). We had a beautiful baby girl!! No changes in the cups.

Day 10 Biodegradable Experiment

Worms are quite active near the front of aquarium near the cups. Click on picture to see up close. No decomposing yet.

Day 9 Biodegradable Experiment

Noticing food scraps and bedding being turned into good compost soil - a nice earthy smell is emitted. Not much change in the cups decomposing.