Effort to Reduce Food-Container Waste Runs into the Law

Students at Gustavus Adolphus College just wanted to cut down on cafeteria waste. But they were derailed by the law.

According to an Associated Press story, student environmentalists wanted the college to purchase reusable food containers from IKEA to cut down on the amount of cardboard food containers students were taking out of the dining hall.

But a Minnesota state law prohibits people from bringing their own food containers into a dining facility.

Steve Kjellgren, director of dining services, said the law has forced the college to confront a more difficult issue.

“The practice of students taking food items to go when it isn’t really necessary is the problem,” Mr. Kjellgren said. “We need to change behavior, which isn’t too easy to do.”