Understanding the dynamics of dining out food waste: exploring the price effect and heterogeneities

Dining out food waste has garnered considerable global attention in recent years. This study empirically analyses the impact of food prices on dining out food waste based on a comprehensive micro-survey conducted in China's restaurants. The primary findings reveal a significant and negative effect of food prices on dining out food waste, largely attributed to a considerable decrease in food ordering quantity and an increased likelihood of packing leftovers. The heterogeneity analyses further underscore the nuanced influence of price intervention, suggesting that strategies targeting high-price restaurants may yield more effective outcomes. Additionally, concerns about potential unintended consequences, such as overeating or obesity, are alleviated by empirical evidence demonstrating that food prices do not significantly affect the quantity of food consumption. However, the estimated price elasticity at the sample mean is inelastic (−0.18), suggesting a potentially substantial welfare loss consumers would face without considering the value of food waste-related externalities. Moreover, the small marginal effect of price also raises doubts about the effectiveness of the food waste disposal fee of restaurants in China.