The typical day at Georgetown. Maybe you wake up early, get yourself ready, and head to Leo’s before your first class. 

Or maybe you wake up 10 minutes before your 8 AM, throw on some clothes and pop a Redbull to keep you awake. You chug it down and toss it into the recycling. Or maybe you don’t. But does it matter? 

Did you know that only 9% of plastic waste has ever been recycled? But rather than recycling through a process called downcycling, where recycled plastic is injected with new plastic to form new products—these products cannot be recycled. 

After class you're hungry so you head to Chick-fil-A. You order your meal (but of course you can’t forget your Chick-fil-A sauce packs) and you grub with your plastic fork while sipping on their iconic lemonade with a plastic straw. 

Later in the day, you're feeling bad about yourself so you head to Yates to get a workout in. Post-workout you're exhausted and decide you deserve a Fairlife Corepower protein shake (those things are terrible for you). You chug that down and toss it in the recycling, or... maybe you don’t. 

Regardless, we see a common theme. The usage and waste of single-use plastic permeates everyday life. But what are the implications? 

First, what are single-use plastics? 

They are goods that are made primarily from fossil fuel-based chemicals and are meant to be disposed of right after use. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bags, bottles, wrappers, and straws. 

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, I’m sure there is some form of single-use plastic—from plastic utensils to the wrapping around your favorite candy or snack. According to the OECD, the global production of single-use plastic doubled between 2000 and 2019. By 2040, the growth in use and production of these plastics is expected to rise 70% compared to 2020. 

You are part of a movement that dumps 8 million metric tons of plastic into the ocean every year, and statistics reveal that it will only get worse. 

How can we solve this problem?  

Obviously, it isn’t simply about changing individual habits. Everyone should be recycling what can be recycled, but as we discovered, it won’t induce drastic resolution. Systematic change is necessary to pursue environmentally healthier alternatives to plastics, more biodegradable materials, and efficacious waste management. But that is the job of environmental activists and policy makers. 

For the typical Georgetown student, perhaps reducing personal use of these harmful materials is a small yet impactful step. These actions can start from simple measures like using reusable water bottles, food containers, and shopping bags. For example, students can reduce these single use plastics in their eating habits. When eating dinner at Epi’s, instead of drinking out of their fountain cup, if students refill their reusable water bottles with whatever drink, it will greatly reduce plastic waste. Even more, students can call for more environmentally proactive policies like adding reusable cups and utensils in Epis just like Leos. Ultimately, the best way to reduce plastic usage is for every student to take a proactive role on the microscale. 

We’re all a part of this movement, this crisis. But day-to-day decisions can result in incredible change.