Picture this: you're walking through the East Findlay Commons on a Tuesday night. You look to the side and styrofoam boxes overflow from the trash cans, some not even making it inside the can. As more students finish their dinner, more boxes are added to the seemingly infinite pile of trash.

Penn State Freshman Lindsey McMackin, a strong activist for the environment, recognized this problem, and decided to do something about it. A firm believer in that change starts with action, McMackin created a Change.org petition to "replace the styrofoam containers in the Penn State dining halls" with more sustainable ones.

"When I first got to Penn State and saw they were using such harmful materials I knew I had to do something," said McMackin. Styrofoam, which is non-biodegradable, "stays in a landfill for up to 500 years after it is thrown out." McMackin informs potential signers of the dangers of styrofoam and non recyclable plastics in the petition blurb.

The petition has racked up 1,722 signers as of Wednesday night. With a goal of 2,500 signers, McMackin has utilized social media to spread the word and get people to sign. She said, "I knew that a lot of students here also care deeply for our environment and would want to change things," which is a part of the reason why this petition has received so much positive feedback. Clubs like Women For Waves PSU have promoted the petition as they are also focused on environmental issues.

"Overall I think that this petition got so many signatures because our generation really does care about our world and wants to be a force for change." To sign this petition and learn more about the harmful effects of the styrofoam containers in the dining halls, go to this Change.org link.