Can Rotting Vegetables Create Electricity?

• This video describes how unsold or rotting vegetables can be turned into biogas, a cleaner-burning fuel used to create electricity.
  
• Students will learn about a vegetable market in India that converts the 10 tons of daily food waste into electricity that powers street lights, buildings, and a large kitchen.

Positives

• This video highlights an innovative solution to climate change that addresses issues surrounding both food waste and fossil fuel use.
• This resource contains links to 15 additional sites that can be accessed for further learning.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• The site for the Bowenpally Vegetable Market linked in the article is not in English.
• Though biogas is explained in the video, some background information on biofuels may help facilitate learning on this topic.

Differentiation

• Consider using a vocabulary-focused graphic organizer to demonstrate understanding of vocabulary from the video and article.
• While watching the video, provide students with a sequence graphic organizer to take notes on the steps taken in the process of converting vegetables and food waste into biogas.
• This video speaks briefly about some reasons why biogas doesn't have more widespread use, so consider using this video for a deeper dive into the topic.
  
• Have students create posters, videos, or persuasive essays explaining why using food waste for energy is a valuable way to reduce emissions.
• Put students in groups to explore other videos from the World Wide Waste series, and then have them share with class the benefits of each innovative climate solution.