As Minneapolis marks Earth Day with a nod to sustainability, the city's Health Department celebrates a significant green milestone with its Green to Go Ordinance (GTG). A decade in action, the GTG initiative is part of the Minneapolis Environmentally Acceptable Packaging ordinance, first put into effect on April 22, 2015. It made Minneapolis the pioneer city in the state to require that takeout food containers be recyclable, reusable, or compostable, a move since emulated by neighboring St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Edina, and Roseville.
In a celebration of these 10 years, officials have reflected on the progress made and the positive environmental impact of the initiative. "Celebrating 10 years of Green to Go is a big milestone for our city. I’m thankful for the hard work and dedication of the City’s Green to Go team, the health inspectors who are the “boots on the ground”, the Minneapolis food business community and the customers at food businesses who are passionate about recycling," Cindy Weckwerth, Director of Environmental Health at the Minneapolis Health Department, told the publication. The GTG ordinance was introduced in stages with an ultimate goal to significantly reduce waste and achieve the city's zero-waste objectives.
The GTG rules are straightforward yet impactful: all food and beverages prepared by restaurants for immediate consumption or to be taken away must come in reusable, recyclable, or compostable containers. Restaurants are also required to provide separate collection bins to ensure the proper disposal of these materials. Since the initial 1989 ordinance, additions have been made, such as including tin and aluminum cans in 1996, and more recently in 2024, the banning of black plastic food containers.
Local food businesses have been key to the success of the GTG ordinance. Dan Swenson-Klatt, owner of Butter Bakery Café, has been one such proponent. "We have witnessed the growth of the compostable packaging industry and participated in its adjustments over the years. Now, as we’ve introduced reusables to our customers, there is a shared sense of gratitude for investing in ways that will produce even less waste and reduce the impact on our natural resources. We continue to strive to a zero-waste goal, knowing that there is always room to improve our practices," Swenson-Klatt said in the article.
Minneapolis's commitment to a Zero-Waste future is further solidified by the GTG's role in helping to reach recycling and composting goals. A 2015 milestone saw the city resolve to recycle and compost half its waste by 2020, with take-out containers playing a crucial part in the waste management puzzle. Nate Kelly, Senior Environmental Health Specialist for the Minneapolis Health Department, emphasized the collective effort required, stating, "Waste is a significant challenge in our society, and addressing it takes all of us," and urged customers to play their role by disposing of containers properly.
For those interested in staying updated on the city's health initiatives, the Minneapolis Health Department encourages the public to visit their website for resources, learn about their programs, follow them on social media, and subscribe to their newsletter for the latest health information.
