Compost as a Renewable, Sustainable, Combustible Source of Energy

Kitchen and yard waste compost is comprised of materials such as dried leaves, discarded fruit and vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells. When mixed using a compost tumbler and exposed to sun, it decomposes and becomes dry and brittle. This material is ideal for a renewable fuel source, as it would change the fossil fuel industry and likely would not emit as many greenhouses gases as oil, coal, and other fossil fuels. The burning of these fuels is one of the reasons global warming is now a large problem. Compost as a fuel would be both accessible and plentiful. My method to discover if compost could be a possible fuel source is to test the combustibility of the compost. This involves processing and compacting the compost, along with measuring the temperature of the flame and the duration of the burn. I will then experiment with different amounts of compost and different ratios of the materials in the compost. If successful, I aim to use the compost to cook food in a rocket oven. I hypothesize that the compost will be combustible and usable as a fuel source in place of fossil fuels. Most likely, the compost will not be burnable at first, but will be once the ratio of materials in the compost is adjusted. If my hypothesis is supported, it could be possible to decrease our usage of fossil fuels and in doing so, decrease the carbon dioxide emissions each year. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable and will eventually run out, so using compost as a fuel could help to delay that moment. In the end, compost as a renewable fuel source could revolutionize our fuel industry.