About one year ago, I had a life-changing realization. I was taking a shower, following my usual shampoo and conditioner routine, and suddenly I realized that every single product in the shower was plastic. Plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, and shaving cream lined my shower’s shelves.
Not only was my shower routine generating a ton of trash, but I was paying for these bottles that would eventually be recycled or thrown away. What a waste of money!
I had always thought of myself as a fairly environmentally-conscious individual. I turned the lights out when I left the room, used a refillable water bottle, and recycled paper. I was even part of my high school’s recycling club. Wasn’t that enough? Well, in that moment in the shower, I realized that, in fact, it was not enough. So many parts of my life were creating waste, and I had been oblivious to it for years.
After this epiphany, I was left distraught and confused. If I couldn’t use plastic, then what could I possibly use? A single bar of soap was not going to suffice, and everything in typical stores seemed to use disposable packaging.
Over the next few days, I began doing a little bit of research, a.k.a. scrolling through waste-free inspiration Instagram accounts. I was welcomed into a new world that involved completely plastic-free products. It turns out that most disposable packaged items can be replaced with compostable or reusable alternatives.
I decided to make my own Instagram account (@waste.free.katie) and post about my journey towards being more sustainable. My posts vary from product reviews to outfits of thrifted clothes.
As I entered college, I was optimistic that I would be able to continue this journey and perhaps even ease further into it. I imagined myself grabbing an entirely vegan meal from the dining hall on my way to pick up trash on the side of the road. Well, maybe that exact image wasn’t in my head, but I definitely had plans to adopt a more plant-based diet and continue to reduce my use of plastic.
As it turns out, this is way more challenging than I anticipated. Low-waste living usually involves a lot of reusable products which are expensive, take time to clean, and require storage space. Being a college student typically means being broke, overly busy, and living in a dorm room with a minimal number of drawers. So, you can see how these two things do not exactly work together.
I have been trying my best to continue the low-waste swaps I adapted before college, such as using shampoo bars, a refillable water bottle, and thrifting my clothes. However, it has become apparent that it will be a while before I am settled into college enough to begin changing more drastic aspects of my life, such as becoming a vegetarian.
How does this apply to you? Well, for starters, look into some ways you might be able to reduce your environmental impact! I promise, it is easier than you think. More importantly, this is a reminder that it is ok to not constantly make progress, and it is even fine to go backwards sometimes. Whether it is a goal you have or just a hobby, be patient with yourself.
Mind of a Freshman is an Opinion column written by one or two first-year Stevens students to discuss life experiences during their time at Stevens, and other related subject matter.
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