Throughout this semester I have seriously been trying to cut down on my plastic usage. For the last couple of years I have been somewhat conscious of my plastic usage, but this semester I have really been trying to use the smallest amount of plastic possible. Throughout my transition to less plastic it has been extremely fulfilling to know that I am making a difference in the worlds emissions and pollution problems. It is also difficult because my roommate uses an extremely large amount of single use plastic items and just refuses to change his ways no matter how much I lecture him. He grew up in a household where they used a large amount of single use plastics so he just does not know any other way and just struggles with changing. It is hard to have all these single use plastic items in our house and kitchen and avoiding them, but it has progressively gotten easier for me to not be tempted to use those items.     

I have learned from this experience that it is astounding how many people and restaurants use single use plastics. A large amount of restaurants give people straws without even ask their customers. Also a majority of restaurants use plastic cups or lids rather than compostable materials. Having so many restaurants which only have single use plastic options makes it extremely difficult to avoid plastic usage completely, but I have been able to reduce my plastic use significantly. Every time I have had the option of using plastic or avoiding it I have chosen to not use it, but so many restaurants bring drinks out with straws without even asking you. This resulted in me thinking that at times I was failing in avoiding plastic use, but I have to realize that those instances are not my fault. I think I will be able to keep reducing my plastic use, it is just difficult to completely avoid using plastic. For example gatorade only comes in plastic bottles so it is essential impossible to avoid plastic use there, but usually I reuse my gatorade bottles.I have also cut down on my gatorade consumption since cutting down on my plastic use. My oldest brother is extremely environmentally focused and he just recommended that I drink water from a reusable bottle and then only drink other drinks that are not put in plastic bottles. It is also just small things you have to give up, like not using plastic coffee stirrers and small tedious things like that make the whole process of cutting down on plastic difficult.