The crisis ignited by COVID-19 has transformed the volume and composition of waste generation and requires a dynamic response from policy makers. This study selected Bangkok as a case study to semi-quantitatively examine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on consumer-generated food and plastic waste by examining changes in lifestyles and consumption behaviour through a face-to-face questionnaire survey. Travel bans and diminished economic activity due to COVID-19 have led to a dramatic reduction in waste from the business sector and in the total amount of municipal waste generated. However, the results of the survey showed that both food and plastic waste generated by households in Bangkok increased during COVID-19. The shift from eating out to online food delivery services led to an increase in plastic bags, hot-and-cold food bags, plastic food containers, and food waste. Reasons for the increase in household food waste during COVID-19 varied, with respondents citing excessive amounts of food and unappetising taste, followed by exceeding the expiration date and rotting/foul odours. These reasons may be the result of the inability to predict quantity and quality when ordering online, and inadequate food planning and management by consumers. To achieve more effective food and plastic waste management, home delivery services, consumer food planning and management, and the formation of a circular economy based on localised supply chains may be considered as important intervention points.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown of cities have led to the rapid growth of online food delivery (OFD). Moreover, there are concerns that OFD platforms may impose offers on users in order to continue to increase their market share, leading to numerous environmental issues such as overconsumption and a significant increase in plastic packaging waste. Most studies have focused on the environmental impacts associated with food packaging and have been mostly limited to China. However, less research has been carried out on the overall CO2 emissions of an OFD order including food. In this study, the CO2 emissions of an OFD order were assessed by considering the production, distribution, consumption and disposal of the ingredients, based on lifecycle thinking and existing secondary data, for three representative food groups (Western food, Japanese food and Chinese food) in Japan. This study found that the food production of an OFD order accounts for more than 70% of the CO2 emissions of the entire process, especially food ingredient production. Policy support and initiatives such as OFD platforms being able to serve different quantities of food based on actual consumer demand to avoid food waste, as well as changes in delivery methods, would help reduce the CO2 emissions of OFD.

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Rapid economic development has led to an overwhelming surge in waste generation, demanding urgent and comprehensive waste management solutions, particularly in developing countries. Source separation is a critical and indispensable step in integrated waste management and is featured as a government-led pattern in general. However, its implementation challenges persist in many cities because of complex waste systems and a lack of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Since there is a paucity of empirical research focusing specifically on the recycling business, this study presents a case study of HUGE Recycling, operating in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, China, to explore the effectiveness of a business-driven, multi-stakeholder partnership model in promoting source separation. The paper reveals that the recycling business plays a significant role in bridging the gap between local governments, residents, and the recycling industry and identifies some key factors in the business-driven, multi-stakeholder cooperative partnership model, fulfilling the requirements of multi-stakeholders. This case fosters collaboration between local governments, residents, and the recycling industry, encouraging active participation and alleviating the government’s burden. The findings highlight the potential applicability of the HUGE Recycling Model to waste management in resource-constrained developing countries for better resource management.