For Plastic Free July this year, I decided to take a hard look at my monthly consumption.
I saved all the plastic I used and then would need to discard during the month. I did not count long term use plastics that I was not throwing away at the time. I cleaned items that had food or drink in them so that they would not attract any crawling friends.
Unfortunately, what you will see below is not everything. I was not able to keep some plastic cups while at a few restaurants. So multiply the plastic cups by a few!
I want to preface that I did A LOT of traveling in July, so I tried my best to be prepared and bring my own snacks or drinks. When I did buy drinks while out, I tried to get things in glass or aluminum cans.
Sorting
I began the sorting by making 2 piles: locally recyclable and non-recyclables (or unknown).
Locally recyclable
Other
Where I live, recyclable plastic includes numbers 1,2,5, and 7. It is important to do this research prior to tossing it in your bin. Wishful recycling, which is recycling an item with the hopes of it being recyclable or not knowing for sure, is unfortunately a hinderance to the recycling process. Read more here.
Now, within these piles, I sorted further into reusable items (that I actually have a plan for) and items TerraCycle will collect.
Here’s a rough breakdown of quantity and types of the plastics that landed in each category:
Reusable/Recyclable:
2 take out containers
1 bug keeping container (I have a pet bearded dragon!)
1 square almond container – I like to poke holes in the bottle and use these with the lids as pots for plants
Almond container not pictured…it was being used to hold items below.
Recyclables:
1 olive oil bottle
1 juice bottle
5 pill bottles
1 camera packaging
1 small portion cup
8 to go cups and lids (add a few cups to this that I could not keep)
TerraCycle/Upcycle/Compostable?/Non-recyclable:
1 colored party cup – will be cleaned and reused
2 plastic forks – will be cleaned and reused
30+ daily contact packs – I can TerraCycle these and the contacts, but I did not save those (I ran out of my monthly and had to switch to the daily ones I have as back ups)
6 grocery store bags – I use these to line my small trash cans but can also recycle at my work (from takeout, drive through pharmacy, forgotten farmers market bags)
1 World Centric compostable container – unfortunately, from the website, it says that this breaks down in a commercial composting system and is not recommended for home composting, which is the only thing I have access to right now
8 clear plastic bags – I can recycle these at my work and also reuse them as I can for compost or food (from local granola, packaging for farmers market greens, few Ziploc bags from camera shipment)
1 large non-clear Ziploc from medical powder – will use to freeze compost
Non-recyclable:
6 pieces of medical waste and their packaging including Humira pens, an at home antibody test, and poor contact lens case
About 30 pieces of food packaging – including wrappers from candy, frozen burrito, tofu, flatbread, granola bars, chip bags, local tea, salad dressing, and local cheese
3 miscellaneous bits from SD card reader and camera shipment
109 pieces of plastic later…
After going through my consumption, I am both proud and sad. No matter how hard I try to reduce and reuse, I will have some plastic waste. I cannot stop using plastic altogether because how else will I be able to administer my medication?
I have come to terms with that and prefer to focus on the hundreds of plastic waste I have been able to avoid. For example, you don’t see much plastic silverware in this pile. I try to bring my own straw and silverware when I get takeout!
There are easy steps we can take to reduce our personal plastic consumption through individual action, including:
Buy food and home items in paper, glass, or cardboard packaging.
Bring your own silverware, straw, cup, etc.
Use a reusable water bottle!
Ultimately, to make a large dent on our plastic problem, we need to hold companies accountable.
#BreakFreeFromPlastic Movement provides pathways for our individual actions to come together and enact change. Not only do they have toolkits to assist with effective action, but this global movement is currently working towards getting support for plastic punting legislation.
*Sometimes I use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything and will not harm our mother earth. I just might get some funding to go toward filling my logbook and sharing more with you.
As my summer ended, my school year began. I was nervous about going back to living on campus since I had just spent the year away, at the field station and then abroad on the Galapagos. Although I spent the summer in Virginia, readjusting to a life on campus as a college student again is another change. I have mentioned this before, but reverse culture shock is definitely real. I am lucky to have had a lot of support on campus with this adjustment.
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Tour Guide Training
My experience back onto campus began with tour guide training. Every year, I have to participate in this training even though I have been a tour guide since sophomore year. Many things on campus change over the summer and it is important to stay up to date. However, when you are off campus for as long as I was and there are major curriculum changes, all day training about campus is a little overwhelming. I made it through and had the opportunity to enjoy my new apartment with one of my roommates and friends.
Cheerleading
Shortly after, I had my last preseason for football cheerleading. This is a few days of cheerleading ALL day. We also did some team bonding like our annual scavenger hunt and tie dying!
Tie Dye
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt
SENIORS!
Classes Begin
Classes began a few days later. It was my very last fall semester at Juniata! This semester was overwhelming and completely different. Not only did I return from a year off campus but I also experienced having roommates for the first time and starting a new job position.
My classes this semester included Hispanic Culture in Film, Environmental Geology & Lab, Conservation Biology, and Global Environmental Issues. I also took a credit of research to work on my project from my internship from over the summer. I really enjoyed taking geology and I highly suggest it to everyone. It is so important to understand the building blocks of our earth, literally!
Working Girl
I began working in admissions as a freshman as Student Assistant for an admission counselor. I worked my way up to Tour Guide and now this year, I began my position as an Assistant Admission Counselor. I assist the admission counselors by interviewing students who visit Juniata, informing families about Juniata financial and application details, and assisting during open houses. This position is more money but also allows me to do one of the things I love to do most: get to know people. I get to talk about the place I love but also understand student’s backgrounds and why they interested in Juniata. I love being a professional in the office.
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Conferences
Wyoming: The Cowboy State
After my study abroad semester, I became part of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Alumni Network (after completing the program which provided me with a scholarship to go abroad). As part of this network, I was invited to the U.S. Future Leaders Topical Seminar: Energy and Natural Resources in Laramie, WY. So I missed the 2nd week of my classes and went to Laramie!
These few days were hosted at University of Wyoming (UW). Here are some highlights! One of our speakers included a Senior Executive at Exxon Mobil Corporation and he sat at my dinner table with his wife. I toured the High Bay Research Facility, which aims to improve the efficiency of the extraction of oil and natural gas resources. I also visited the High Plains Wind Farm as part of Rocky Mountain Power, learning about how wind power is used in Wyoming and in surrounding states!
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Down South to Charleston
In November, I traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina for the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Association Annual Meeting. I was able to go because of my internship last summer at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia. At the meeting, I had the opportunity to be in the same room as almost all the staff from each of the 29 different NERRs. The networking I was able to do was phenomenal. I also got to catch up with other Hollings interns that I met through the program.
Here are the highlights!
I began with a Climate Change Communication workshop by the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI). This was a super awesome workshop backed by research. The next day I sat with the Education Sector for the morning to discuss internships and putting diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice. We then went to the South Carolina Aquarium to investigate interpretive design best practices for exhibits at visitor centers. This included touring and understanding the construction of their newest exhibit about their turtle hospital. They also gave us extra time to enjoy the rest of the aquarium!
That evening, I presented my research in a poster format and got to interact with many people from all over the reserve system. It was super fun to also have my mentors there for support!
My last conference of the semester was the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2019 in San Francisco. I roomed with one of my friends I met through the Hollings Scholarship and got to see many more of my friends while I was there. I presented my first oral presentation about my project at a large conference. It was an incredible experience and I was glad to be part of it.
I also attended many different presentations, visited a wide variety of posters, and participated in great science communication workshops.
Mike Bloomberg & Jerry Brown
Exhibit Hall
Jane Lubchenco (an idol)
One of my favorite ones was about marine debris and the plastic problem. We learned about plastic found on the coasts and the origin of the mass of it. We also learned how different programs such as Washed Ashore, are using their debris from clean ups to build plastic sculptures and putting them in public spaces to create conversation. During the workshop, we got to make our own designs with actual plastic pieces from the clean ups. Not only is this promoting environmental consciousness, but it is also adding the art literacy component. When we created our own designs, we focus on colors, or types of plastics.
What are some origins of the masses of plastics in the ocean?
Commercial Fishing (traps and nets left in the ocean)
Container Spills (large shipments of goods such as hockey gloves, dolls, or shoes)
Afterwards, I actually had lunch with the presenter and got some career advice from him!
I also got to see my mentor from my internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and more people from my scholarship program!
AND I saw one of my friends (huge surprise) from study abroad!!!!
We explored San Francisco in the evenings after a day full of taking in all the science.
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End of Football Cheerleading
In the midst of all of this, I also had my last game cheering for football. I will miss being on the sidelines so much!
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Last Traditions/Moments on Campus & in Huntingdon
I also had my last of many traditions and favorite activities on Juniata’s campus and in Huntingdon
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Mountain Day
There’s nothing quite like having class cancelled, but Mountain Day is the epitome of cancelled classes. This annual tradition is one of my favorites and began in the late 1880s. On this day, classes are cancelled with no prior notice. The saying on campus is “Mountain Day is always tomorrow”.
On Mountain Day, students are given the opportunity to spend the day at Raystown Lake to enjoy a picnic, swimming, water sports, crafts, yard games, and inflatables. There are usually surprise raffles and treats. This year we had FREE Rita’s Italian Ice!
The scenery is picturesque. Hammocks swing from trees, laughter roars from the waterside, students are falling off kayaks, and speakers sing anthems of a fun day. My favorite part is that faculty and staff are invited. Professors engage in conversation with barefoot students, who insist on petting every dog in sight.
After lunch, each class battles in tug-o-war until the strongest group takes on the faculty and staff. In the finale, we brought in many seniors who were nervous to join but were persuaded by our camaraderie; we barely had enough rope for everyone to hold on. As a proud member of the class of 2020, I would like to announce that we won!
This year, Mountain Day was a total surprise for me and many others. It was a great day with the Juniata community including faculty, staff, and students. Only Juniatians really understand the magic of Mountain Day, everyone else is just insanely jealous because they want their classes cancelled.
But this day is much more than that.
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Special Olympics
Every year Juniata College hosts the Special Olympics Central Pennsylvania Fall Sectional. On this day, our campus becomes the stage for athletic excellence and perseverance. Athletes from over 20 central Pennsylvania counties come together to show off their abilities. These athletes work extremely hard for this day, and are full of excitement upon arrival.
I look forward to this event every year. As a cheerleader, we participate in the opening ceremony events by greeting athletes, cheering them on, and doing a short performance. We also volunteer at various stations throughout the day. Although we arrive early in the morning, I keep my energy high and my smile bright. These athletes give their 100% and they deserve my 100%.
I love being able to be part of this exciting moment and support others in their journey to success. No matter who someone is or what obstacles they might face, they deserve the utmost respect for their hard work and achievements.
Special Olympics International has started “The Revolution is Inclusion” campaign to create a fully inclusive world.
I got to represent the Galapagos semester at our study abroad fair on campus! I also got to hang out with a friend who was studying abroad at Juniata and my friend who went abroad with me.
Trough Creek State Park
My family took my friend, who was spending a semester at Juniata from York, UK, to enjoy the local central PA nature at Trough Creek State Park!
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Hydrilla Study on Raystown Lake
When I was at the field station, I got to assist with a study of invasive hydrilla on Raystown Lake. This year, I got to help again!!! It was a full day of fun, sampling the bottom of the lake.
That green stuff…that is invasive hydrilla
Raystown Field Station Alumni Retreat
Only 4 of us remained on campus since our semester at the field station was mostly seniors. So we decided to rent out Grove Farm, have a campfire, and reminesce on our good ole days at the lake without annoying anyone else about it.
The next morning we went down to the lake to take a picture with our RD, John, and his mighty sidekick, Margo.
Grove Farm
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Madrigal
We have a dance and dinner at the end of our fall semester. It was quite fun this year with my roommates and friends!
The crew
My favorite public safety officer
Senior Year
I am of course writing this post on the day we found out we are not returning to classes on campus and will be learning remotely until the end of the semester. I do not want to get too sappy until my next post about the spring semester. However, I do have to say….I wish I would have soaked in some more of Juniata and my memories during my fall semester knowing now that it is all over.
Steph's Logbook 