Gustavus Adolphus College will introduce new, reusable take-out containers called GustieWare in its campus dining service this fall.

The containers feature a composite material bottom with a clear plastic snap-on lid and are microwaveable and stand up to repeated runs through the kitchen's dishwasher.

GustieWare is intended to serve as an alternative to the cardboard take-out boxes that have previously been used in the school's Market Place takeout operation.

The containers will be given out and no charge, with an “honor system” approach to returns to the kitchen for washing and reuse. The traditional cardboard containers will also be available but will entail a 50-cent charge.

“The college's annual consumption of cardboard take-out boxes has reached nearly 250,000, which to many of us is recognized as excessive,” says Dining Services Director Steve Kjellgren.

Gustavus made an initial order of about 2,250 containers in three different sizes from manufacturer NordicWare.