How to recycle your takeaway food packaging

The food-delivery market has more than tripled since 2017, worldwide. But with more takeaway food containers comes more plastic, meaning more pollution – unless eco-friendly packaging is used. It has become important to educate the final consumer on how to dispose of the various forms of takeaway containers.

Some of the materials used to produce eco-friendly packaging that can be recycled: 

• PLA bioplastic
• Kraft paper
• Bamboo
• Sugarcane
• Vegetable starch. 

So, what is the proper, eco-friendly way to get rid of your takeaway packaging? 

First, do your research. 

Check your local sanitation department’s website to discover which containers are recyclable and which aren’t in your specific area.  

Some of the usual food-packaging materials that can be recycled include:

• Paper and cardboard, both of which are renewable resources used for making cereal boxes, paper cartons, etc. 
• Glass
• Metal (like tin cans)
• Plastic (remember that only packaging with recycling symbols 1, 2, and 5 can be recycled). 

Next, toss any food leftovers in your organic waste bin. 

Then, make sure you give those containers (including the lids) a proper rinsing with clean water before dropping them in the recycling bin. This is because oil and grease can mess with the recycling process. 

Follow this by:

• Taking off all plastic lids, caps, etc. 
• Removing all packaging tape, if applicable. 
• Flattening the carton or box so that it takes up less space. 

What can’t be recycled?

Take note that not everything is recyclable. So, avoid adding these to your recycling bin:

• Containers made from polystyrene 
• Black plastic packaging (although some are made from recycled materials, you can’t recycle them again)
• Plastic utensils (first check with your local recycling facility if these are allowed)
• Plastic (grocery/shopping) bags
• Dirty napkins and paper plates
• Any oil-stained containers, like pizza boxes. So, feel free to recycle that top part of the pizza box (if it’s clean), but tear off the stained bottom one and add it to your regular trash. 

What are the advantages of using sustainable packaging for takeaway containers?

• Less waste (less materials are required to make eco-friendly packaging, making them more lightweight) 
• Resource preservation (the more packaging is made from eco-friendly materials, the less raw materials are required)
• Less pollution (instead of adding to waste, compostable packaging breaks down naturally)
• Decrease in carbon emissions (using renewable materials and clean production methods means fewer greenhouse gasses). 

Recyclable- and sustainable packaging from PDP

Fortunately, we at PDP (Papa de Papel) and MBA Green make recycling takeaway containers so much easier. That’s because, instead of traditional plastic, we focus on eco-friendly materials (such as the aforementioned bamboo, kraft paper, and more) to produce sustainable packaging for a range of industries, including food and beverage. 

So, after learning the correct ways to recycle those takeaway containers, why not take the next green step and team up with PDP? Trust us for all your eco-friendly packaging needs and together we can help conserve our planet’s natural resources.

Contact us today.