Food packaging waste refers to any container used for food storage, including plastic trays for chilled meats in supermarkets, cardboard boxes for dry goods, and aluminium cans for beverages. This category covers a vast array of packaging materials, mainly comprising plastic, paper, cardboard, and metal.

Much of this waste is recyclable, albeit it requires cleaning to remove contaminants that could hinder the recycling process. However, certain food packaging types, made from mixed materials like ceramics, wax, glass, and others, are difficult or impossible to recycle.