Single Use is so 2020

You’ve survived a national quarantine, being forced indoors and isolated amidst a global pandemic. The last thing that you want to worry about is your environmental impact. But, while the world is spiraling out of control, you can make small changes to manage your footprint and regain some stability.

Nekrasov, Andrey. “Plastic and Other Garbage Polluting in the Adriatic Sea.” Www.wbur.org, WBUR, 12 Oct. 2020, www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/10/12/plastic-pollution-coronavirus.

COVID-19 has made society wasteful. For college students, it’s inevitable. Dining halls have switched to single use containers, and safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Masks are mandatory in all spaces on campus. Your university sends emails telling you that layering a disposable, single-use mask with a cloth mask will reduce risk of spreading the virus. Compliance protects your friends, professors and staff, but hurts your future in the long run.

More than 1.56 billion face masks are on their way into the oceans after the first year of the outbreak in 2020, according to CTV News. This equates to 4,860-6,240 tons of extra waste polluting our oceans (Jones). French authorities have ordered over two billion disposable masks to be created in the upcoming year. Laurent Lombard of Operation Mer Propre says that soon there will be more masks than jellyfish in the ocean (“'More Masks than Jellyfish': Coronavirus Waste Ends up in Ocean.”). This means that during the spring breaks, summer vacations, and weekends, the beaches that serve as our beacon of hope are filled with polluted water and masks washing ashore. While we may not be traveling much this year, there will be less to enjoy in the long run.

The Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that “even if only 1 per cent of the masks were disposed of incorrectly… this would result in 10 million masks per month dispersed in the environment. Considering that the weight of each mask is about 4 grams, this would entail the dispersion of over 40 thousand kilograms of plastic in nature” (“The New Plastic Bottle? How to Dispose of Face Masks in an Environmentally-Safe Way.”).

Your mask will outlive the pandemic and you. With that mask will also be a heap of single-use silverware and food containers that were essential to the protection of society. However, small and auxiliary items, like straws, often fall between the cracks. While not necessary for all, they can pose a massive pollution question.

On college campuses such as Syracuse University, the dining halls distribute food with plastic and paper containers, providing plastic utensils to students at every meal. With their food comes a spoon, fork, knife and flimsy napkin. While this helps reduce germ transmission, it means that twenty-two thousand students are using, disposing of and wasting three sets of plastic cutlery every single day. It’s not their fault, however. Their main priority is keeping students safe. This is the same for universities nationwide.

Before the pandemic, colleges allowed students to use takeout containers, compost their food, and separate the trash from recycling. However, with such a high volume of containers, students have nearly entirely given up on organizing their trash, filling compost bins with plastic plates, spoons and foils.

All hope is not lost. Some students have changed the fate of dining hall habits and helped reduce their environmental impact while at school. You can join them with a few easy changes:

1. Pick up a reusable straw!

Whether you just need one for your daily Dunkin’ Donuts coffee during class, or are in the routine of having one, you can keep a reusable straw in your backpack or water bottle for easy access. Reusable straws are extra helpful in the protection of others, because they allow you to keep your mask on while still enjoying a beverage. They come in metal, silicone, or glass, which helps make travel easy and cleaning even easier.

To buy your own, check out these affordable options here!

2. Carry a silverware set!

It’s just so convenient to grab a set of silverware, but a bamboo, metal or reusable set are so much more convenient! Most reusable silverware sets come in boxes, which are quick and easy to clean. After your meal, just stick your used items into the box for a quick rinse before your next meal. It will give you the feel of eating at home with a knife that actually cuts!

To find your own, try this EcoRoots site!

3. Tote bags are more than a fashion statement!

Canvas or thrifted tote bags can be a fashionable accent to your outfit, and an environmental savior. If you’re having trouble carrying all your to-go containers and food items at once, skip the plastic bag and slide them into your tote bag, which you can keep folded in your backpack until you need it. Random shopping spree with friends? No worries, you’ve got your carrying covered.

4. Carry your favorite drink!

After conducting a poll of 1,400 Instagram users, it was concluded that 39% of them choose not to wash their reusable water bottles regularly. Whether or not you choose to wash your bottle if water is in it, a reusable water bottle will help you keep your favorite beverages cold while also ensuring that you always have a drink with your meal. Whether it helps you carry what you don’t finish, or provides a quick refreshment before class, carrying your drink will save you time and energy in the long run.