Disposable Plastic Waste and Associated Antioxidants and Plasticizers Generated by Online Food Delivery Services in China: National Mass Inventories and Environmental Release

Abstract

China's online food delivery (OFD) services consume enormous amounts of disposable plastics. Here, we investigated and modeled the national mass inventories and environmental release of plastics and chemical additives in the plastic. The extra-tree regression identified six key descriptors in determining OFD sales in Chinese cities. Approximately 847 kt of OFD plastic waste was generated in 2021 (per capita 1.10 kg/yr in the megacities and 0.39 kg/yr in other cities). Various additives were extensively detected, with geomean concentrations of 140.96, 4.76, and 0.25 μg/g for ∑ 8 antioxidants, ∑ 21 phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA), respectively. The estimated mass inventory of these additives in the OFD plastics was 164.7 t, of which 51.1 t was released into the atmosphere via incineration plants and 51.0 t was landfilled. The incineration also released 8.07 t of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 39.1 kt of particulate matter into the atmosphere. Takeout food may increase the dietary intake of phthalates and BPA by 30% to 50% and raise concerns about considerable exposure to antioxidant transformation products. This study provides profound environmental implications for plastic waste in the Chinese OFD industry. We call for a sustainable circular economy action plan for waste disposal, but mitigating the hazardous substance content and their emissions is urgent.

Non-negligible Toxicity to Fish in the Early Life Stages Triggered by Aqueous Leachate of Takeaway Plastic Containers

“…The single-use takeaway boxes are becoming a significant source of plastic packaging waste due to their low recyclability . Online food delivery users have reached 2.85 billion worldwide in 2023, whereas the recycling of takeout food boxes is challenging due to the complexities involved in their cleaning process, and thus ∼847 kt of relevant plastic waste was generated annually in China alone . Packaging debris is widespread in rivers, estuaries, and open oceans, − and our recent investigation revealed that packaging littering is severe, ranging from 0.33 to 13.5 g·L –1 in the estuarine environment …”