Recycling myths debunked
From September 10 to 16 it was National Clean-up Week and National Recycling Day was celebrated on Saturday, 15 September focusing specifically on recycling.
There is an increasing pressure on South Africans to reuse, recycle and reduce waste to landfill.
Mpact Recycling managing director John Hunt debunks some of the myths surrounding recycling and urges citizens to take responsibility for managing their waste.
“There are many ways to make a difference. It may require a little extra effort, but the pay-off is a cleaner, healthier country for our children and generations to come. We all need to see the bigger picture and consider the possibly disastrous outcomes if we don’t make the effort,” he said.
Myth
Only white paper is recyclable.
Fact
Most paper is recyclable. From high-grade white office paper, to coloured paper, corrugated board, newspaper, magazines, cereal boxes and telephone directories, they can all go into a bag for kerbside collection or to the nearest paper bank or collection centre.
Paper that is not suitable for recycling includes wax coated paper such as dog food bags, chip and sweet wrappers, boxes coated with wax or oil and grease.
Myth
Milk and juice cartons are not recyclable.
Fact
Hunt says milk and juice cartons are recyclable, but this was not always the case.
“The cartons are made up of 75 per cent recoverable paper fibre, 20 per cent polyethylene and five per cent aluminium.
“South Africa’s capacity to recycle them was limited until Mpact launched a liquid packaging recycling plant. The R46 million investment will enable us to recycle approximately 25 000 tonnes of packaging every year.”
Myth
There is no landfill crisis.
Fact
In January, it was widely reported that the City of Johannesburg’s Robinson Deep landfill site was nearing capacity. The Western Cape’s Environmental Affairs Department also announced that many of the province’s waste sites were reaching capacity.
In addition to having a finite capacity, landfill sites are a major potential source of pollution in the form of toxins, leachate and greenhouse gases. The more South Africans can recycle, the less harmful chemicals and gases are released are released into the environment.
Myth
Products made from recycled content are not good quality.
Fact
Recycled goods are strong and functional. The quality varies according to what the recycled paper or plastic will be used for.
Myth
Recycling doesn’t help the environment.
Fact
Recycling paper has a positive impact on climate change. Paper stores carbon and recycling paper helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by keeping the carbon locked up in the paper for longer and extending the life of landfills.
Myth
There are no economic benefits to recycling.
Fact
According to the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA), recycling provides jobs for about 100 000 people in South Africa, many of whom are entrepreneurs and small business owners reliant on the sustained volumes of recycled material to earn a living.
Hunt said the greatest benefits of the programme is that it creates informal employment for thousands of people in local communities.
“Notably, Mpact Recycling has helped establish about 50 buy-back centres throughout Gauteng, which bring in more than 100 000 tonnes of recyclables every year.”
Hunt said there is no good reason not to recycle.
“With greater access to information than ever before, we are obliged to act now to conserve this planet’s natural resources and make it a safer and more sustainable place to live.”
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