The Minneapolis Health Department is celebrating a decade of progress with its Green to Go Ordinance (GTG). GTG is part of the City’s Environmentally Acceptable Packaging ordinance. Put into effect on April 22, 2015, GTG established Minneapolis as the first city in the state requiring the use of recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable to-go food containers in restaurants.
In the decade since its inception, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Edina, and Roseville have followed suit, creating similar ordinances to make takeout containers more environmentally friendly.
“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,” said Cindy Weckwerth, Director of Environmental Health at the Minneapolis Health Department. “Since 2015, we’ve rolled out the ordinance in steps, giving businesses time to learn while helping cut down on waste. I look forward to the next 10 years of Green to Go and its impact on meeting our City’s zero-waste goals.”
Green to Go history
The City’s 1989 Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Ordinance has been updated several times.
- 1989: The City passes its first Environmentally Acceptable Packaging. It included food-related packaging.
- 1996: Glass bottles, tin, and aluminum cans are added to the ordinance.
- 2015: The packaging ordinance is renamed “Green to Go” and bans StyrofoamTM, and identifed preferred plastics (plastics 1, 2, and 5).
- 2024: Black plastic food containers are banned.
Green to Go rules and requirements
GTG aims to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills or other waste systems by requiring restaurants to reuse, recycle, and compost more. The long-term goal is to reduce solid waste and the financial and environmental impact of waste.
Food and beverages prepared by restaurants for immediate consumption or taken to go must:
- Be put in containers that are either:
- Reusable, recyclable, or compostable
- Provide collection bins for each type of material used
- Recyclable materials must be recycled
- Compostable plastics must be composted
Packaging is defined as cans, bottles, or containers used to package food or beverages for immediate consumption or to go (e.g., cups, bowls, clamshell containers):
- Allowed containers
- Reusable
- Plastic marked with a recycle number #1, #2 or #5
- Plastics that are certified compostable containers
- Not allowed containers
- Rigid polystyrene plastic marked with a #6
- Polyethylene (PE) plastic-lined paper cups and plates
- Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- Black plastic lids and containers
Read GTG rules and requirements
“Waste is a significant challenge in our society, and addressing it takes all of us”, said Nate Kelly, Senior Environmental Health Specialist for the Minneapolis Health Department. “Customers must do their part and dispose of the containers properly for the ordinance to be successful. Together, we can lower our environmental impact and build a more sustainable city today and for future generations.”
Food businesses committed to GTG
Dan Swenson-Klatt owns Butter Bakery Café (3700 Nicollet Ave.). Like many food business owners, he’s committed to helping the City reduce waste.
"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.”
Minneapolis committed to Zero-Waste.
In June 2015, the City established a target of zero-waste with a goal of recycling and composting half its waste by 2020. The GTG ordinance has played a key role in reaching this goal, as take-out containers contribute significantly to municipal solid waste.
Learn about the City’s Zero Waste Plan
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