What Happens to the Plastic from Your Takeaway?

Think back to last swiggy or Zomato order. You ordered your favorite biryani or maybe a spicy paneer wrap from that trending new place. It came neatly packed – a plastic container, sealed with cling wrap, maybe even tucked inside a glossy bag with a paper napkin and a disposable spoon. You enjoyed your meal. Then, you tossed the packaging into the bin, told yourself you’d “segregate it later”… and that was the end of it. Or so we think.

The Journey We Don’t See

What happens to that plastic container after it leaves your hands? The truth isn’t comforting.

Most takeaway packaging in India isn’t recyclable – especially when it’s stained with oil, food, or sauces. Recycling units reject contaminated plastics, and municipal waste collectors rarely separate such items. So, here’s where your food packaging might end up:

Buried in a landfill, where it takes 450-1,000 years to decompose
Burned in an open dump yard, releasing toxic fumes and microplastics
Carried away by wind or rain, clogging drains or floating into lakes and rivers
In some unfortunate cases, ingested by stray animals scavenging for food

The Scale of the Problem

India generates 3.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually (CPCB, 2023), and food delivery is one of the fastest-growing contributors. With 7–8 crore takeaway orders placed every month, imagine the volume of plastic that’s used once… and stays on the planet for centuries. But There’s a Shift Happening.

Some restaurants and cloud kitchens are making a switch – not just to paper bags, but to truly compostable alternatives made from corn starch and plant-based materials.

Unlike plastic, these biodegrade within months, without leaving harmful residues. Unlike paper, they’re strong, water-resistant, and oil-proof — making them a real, practical solution for food packaging.

When we think about plastic waste, we often imagine shopping bags or bottles. But it’s the quiet, daily choices – like ordering food – that add up the fastest. And in 2025, the shift won’t be driven by policy alone. It’ll be shaped by consumers, small businesses, and local suppliers choosing better packaging every day.

So the next time your food arrives neatly packed and piping hot, ask: “Will this packaging nourish the planet too – or harm it after I’m done?”
You don’t need to stop ordering. But you can start asking — and supporting brands that care about what happens next.