Forests are being chopped away, oceans are rising, and landfills are filling up. These human inflicted issues are taking a toll on the earth but not many recognize it. Companies continue to use palm oil, families shop with plastic bags, and students throw away bottle after bottle. Despite this, there are people ditching this trashy lifestyle one step at a time.

“I don’t use plastic water bottles or silverware. I always have a reusable Camelbak water bottle that I toss in my dishwasher at night and it is ready for me in the morning,” senior Rylie Sebben said.

Students similar to Sebben make conscious efforts to change their habits. This crowd is known for ditching plastic straws, abandoning disposable water bottles, and deserting grocery bags. While this lifestyle is known for helping the earth, it is not always practical.

“I think a waste-free lifestyle is definitely an ideal one for the environment. However, it’s more high maintenance and a less convenient lifestyle for us, which is why it’s so difficult,” junior Olivia Carusi said.

Although this concept is slowly popularizing, Carusi still recognizes the frustration of change. Especially with after-school activities, prepping meals and avoiding fast food can be difficult. While many struggle with the transition, there are people successfully progressing.

“I use my own bags for grocery shopping, and I haven’t bought a plastic water bottle in years, nor have I bought plastic products at home, such as ziplock bags, for about five years,” Spanish teacher Amy Roberts said.

There are those similar to Roberts, urging students to make conscious environmental decisions, and there are students taking the change step by step. No matter what stage people are at, zero waste seems to be a likely future for those aware of the declining earth.

As Roberts said, “I think taking little steps to do such things is realistic. If everybody does it, it can and will make a big impact.