Campus Life

Penn State Residential Dining to eliminate plastic bags

Starting the 2019 fall semester at University Park, Penn State Residential Dining will say good-bye to plastic bags. Credit: iStock / maljalen. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Starting the 2019 fall semester, Penn State Residential Dining will say good-bye to plastic bags.

Students are encouraged to look ahead and plan to start using reusable bags when purchasing to-go meals or items in University Park campus convenience stores.

“We made this decision as part of a larger campaign to reduce one-time use items like plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic silverware, and to offer more sustainable, reusable solutions,” says Jamie Robinson, senior assistant director in Residential Dining.

Residential Dining has already eliminated plastic straws from all "all-you-care-to-eat" dining areas.

Pepsi has donated 25,000 reusable bags that Residential Dining will distribute to University Park students in the fall, to kick off the bagless campaign. In the meantime, students can begin doing their part by bringing a reusable bag to on-campus dining commons and convenience stores.

Last Updated April 19, 2019