Over 12-million tonnes of paper and paper packaging have been recovered for recycling in South Africa over the past decade.
This, according to RecyclePaperZA, the country’s paper recycling association, has ensured that waste paper is diverted from landfill and recycled into new products including tissue products, newsprint and paper packaging for the agricultural, manufacturing and retail sectors.
In 2018, South Africa collected 71.7 per cent of recoverable paper and packaging, amounting to 1 285-million tonnes.
“South Africa is in the enviable position of being able to use up to 90 per cent of its recovered waste paper locally by recycling it into new paper, packaging and tissue,” said Anele Sololo, general manager of RecyclePaperZA.
The balance of waste paper is exported.
Paper recycling difficulties
Currently, the global paper recycling industry is faced with over-supply.
“This means there is more waste paper available than there is use for it,” said Sololo.
There are various economic factors at play, not least of which is China’s stricter requirement for cleaner waste imports since 2017.
This also means that around 30-million tonnes of waste paper from around the world needs to find a new home and use.
In South Africa, the severe drought in fruit-growing regions has had a knock-on effect for the paper packaging sector.
“Corrugators produce less boxes for fruit with the result being that mills produce less paper which affects waste paper consumption rates,” said Sololo.
“It is important to understand that collectors are paid for the recyclables they collect, and the higher the value of that recyclable, the more likely they are to collect it,” she added.
The lower demand in the market will affect a price drop as mills need to ensure they remain commercially viable, and unfortunately this affects recycling collectors and traders.
The South African paper industry is, however, investing in research and development of alternative uses for recycled paper to ensure that recyclable paper and paperboard continues to be diverted from landfill and help improve demand for recycled paper fibre.
Recycled paper products need different ingredients
On the home front, some citizens may be a little confused about why some types of paper, such as newspapers, are not wanted by collectors.
Just as chocolate cakes may differ slightly in terms of their ingredients, so too does paper.
Printing paper, tissue, cardboard boxes, paper bags and sacks all require different types and quantities of raw materials.
“The difference in paper recipes may even be customer-specific, which makes paper making an exact science,” said Sololo.
Historically, newspapers were required as a raw material for newsprint manufacturing.
The declining newspaper consumption, largely due to online media, has resulted in the closure of newsprint machines in South Africa, leaving only one operational newsprint machine.
“In 2011, South Africa produced 316,725 tonnes of newsprint,” said Sololo.
She added that in 2018, the annual newsprint production was less than half the 2011 figure at 113,912 tonnes.
This in turn has reduced the demand for used newspapers by paper mills.
Newspapers are still used in the manufacture of moulded fibre products such as egg cartons, takeaway cup holders and fruit trays.
“This is where brand owners and retailers can help make a difference, by moving from plastic to paper for their packaging,” said Sololo.
A classic example is polystyrene vegetable and fruit trays, these can be made effectively from paper pulp.
Some grades of paper are in higher demand than others.
As an example, there is more use for white paper as it requires less deinking and cleaning than newspapers and magazines.
White paper also contains better quality fibres used in the paper recipes.
