I am Maya Faulstich, a student and activist who deeply cares about the earth, our home. 

How can we create and uplift systems that address our “throw-away” culture, and eliminate our need for disposability? This question guides a lot of my work, because every object we touch, and everything we use in our daily lives, all have carbon emissions associated with the production, use, and disposal of them. 

I started my research on single-use plastic in 2019, wondering how we could possibly reduce our plastic use when it is everywhere. Single-use plastics are the types of plastic you use once in a lifetime. Candy wrappers, plastic bottles, and plastic shopping bags are all examples of single-use plastics. I wondered, is there a better way to live without these disposable materials in our lives, and how can we get there? 

I soon discovered Beyond Plastics, an organization working to fight plastic pollution, and am now involved with many of their events.

The belief that we CAN change our systems to move away from disposable products has inspired my projects such as Dishes on Demand, A Climate Carol, and speaking out for policies that address the problem of disposability.

My effort to reduce disposable materials in my community and the world is part of a larger effort to crack down on climate change, both locally and globally. Other climate-related organizations I work with include Maine Youth for Climate Justice, and the Yarmouth Climate Action Task Force. In High School, I co-led the YHS Environmental Action Club.

Click here to learn more about projects I have done and am working on!