Disposable product

Disposable forks

• Aluminum foil and aluminum pans[5]
• Disposable dishware / drinkware (e.g. plates, bowls, cups)[6][7][8]
• Plastic cutlery (e.g. spoons, knives, forks, sporks)[9]
• Disposable table cloth[10]
• Cupcake wrappers, coffee filters are compostable
• Drinking straws

Packages are usually intended for a single use. The waste hierarchy calls for minimization of materials. Many packages and materials are suited to recycling, although the actual recycling percentages are relatively low in many regions. For example, in Chile, only 1% of plastic is recycled.[11] Reuse and repurposing of packaging is increasing, but eventually containers will be recycled, composted, incinerated, or landfilled.

There are many container forms such as boxes, bottles, jars, bags, etc. Materials include paper, plastics, metals, fabrics, composites, etc.

Disposable chopsticks

In 2002, Taiwan began taking action to reduce the use of disposable tableware at institutions and businesses, and to reduce the use of plastic bags. Yearly, the nation of 17.7 million people was producing 59,000 tons of disposable tableware waste and 105,000 tons of waste plastic bags, and increasing measures have been taken in the years since then to reduce the amount of waste.[12] In 2013 Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) banned outright the use of disposable tableware in the nation's 968 schools, government agencies and hospitals. The ban is expected to eliminate 2,600 metric tons of waste yearly.

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, laws banning use of disposable food and drink containers at large-scale events have been enacted. Such a ban has been in place in Munich, Germany, since 1991, applying to all city facilities and events. This includes events of all sizes, including very large ones (Christmas market, Auer-Dult Faire, Oktoberfest and Munich City Marathon). For small events of a few hundred people, the city has arranged for a corporation offer rental of crockery and dishwasher equipment. In part through this regulation, Munich reduced the waste generated by Oktoberfest, which attracts tens of thousands of people, from 11,000 metric tons in 1990 to 550 tons in 1999.[13]

China produces about 57 billion pairs of single-use chopsticks yearly, of which half are exported. About 45 percent are made from trees – about 3.8 million of them – mainly cotton wood, birch, and spruce, the remainder being made from bamboo. Japan uses about 24 billion pairs of these disposables per year, and globally the use is about 80 billion pairs are thrown away by about 1.4 million people. Reusable chopsticks in restaurants have a lifespan of 130 meals. In Japan, with disposable ones costing about 2 cents and reusable ones costing typically $1.17, the reusables better at the $2.60 breakeven cost. Campaigns in several countries to reduce this waste are beginning to have some effect.[14][15]

Israel is considered the world's largest user of disposables food containers and dinnerware. Each month, 250 million plastic cups and more than 12 million paper cups are used, manufactured and disposed.[16] In Israel there are no laws about manufacturing or importing of food disposable containers.[16]

A disposable kulhar clay bowl with dahi (curd)

A kulhar is a traditional handle-less clay cup from South Asia that is typically unpainted and unglazed, and meant to be disposable.[17] Since kulhars are made by firing in a kiln and are almost never reused, they are inherently sterile and hygienic.[18] Bazaars and food stalls in the Indian subcontinent traditionally served hot beverages, such as tea, in kuhlars, which suffused the beverage with an "earthy aroma" that was often considered appealing.[19] Yoghurt, hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as kulfi (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars.[20] Kulhars have gradually given way to polystyrene and coated paper cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper.⁠[21]⁠[22]

A disposable safety razor

A disposable toothbrush

Medical and surgical device manufacturers worldwide produce a multitude of items that are intended for one use only.[23] The primary reason is infection control; when an item is used only once it cannot transmit infectious agents to subsequent patients.[24] Manufacturers of any type of medical device are obliged to abide by numerous standards and regulations. ISO 15223: Medical Devices and EN 980 cite that single use instruments or devices be labelled as such on their packaging with a universally recognized symbol to denote "do not re-use", "single use", or "use only once". This symbol is the numeral 2, within a circle with a 45° line through it.

Examples of single use items include:

• Hypodermic needles[25]
• Toilet paper
• Disposable towels, paper towels[26][27]
• Condoms and other contraception products
• Disposable enemas and similar products[28]
• Cotton swabs and pads[29]
• Medical and cleaning gloves
• Medical dust respirators (dust masks)
• Baby and adult diapers, and training pants[30][31][32]
• Shaving razors, safety razors, waxing kits, combs, and other hair control products[33][34][35]
• Toothbrushes, dental floss, and other oral care products
• Hospital aprons [36]
• Disposable panties in postpartum
• Contact lenses,[37] although reusable contact lenses are also available.[38]

Disposable batteries

• Non-rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous waste and should only be disposed of as such.[39]
• Disposable ink cartridges
• Disposable cameras [40]
• Ecigarette devices, coils/ Disposable tanks/pods

• PlastiCuffs

Disposable ballpoint pens

• Garbage bags [41]
• Vacuum cleaner bags, water, air, coolant, and other filters
• Ballpoint pens, erasers, and other writing implements[42]
• Movie sets and theater sets
• Gift wrapping paper
• Labels, stickers, and the associated release liners are single use and usually disposed after use.
• Cigarettes and cigars, plus cigarette packets, filters and rolling paper.