National Recycling Day: ‘ Be the change you want to see in the world’
With National Recycling-day on Friday, 20 September, it is pertinent to know which papers are recyclable and which are not:
South Africa can be deemed a rubbish culture.
Pollution is a common occurrence and according to the Paper Manufacturing Association of South Africa, (PAMSA) in a world that seems to be drowning in waste, one of the best things we can do is instil a culture of separation-at-source and recycling.
Separation-at-source is a simple practice of sorting our waste in our homes, schools, or businesses before it gets collected and recycled.
Instead of throwing everything into one bin, separate items into different categories, such as recyclables (paper, plastic, glass, metal, e-waste), and organic waste (food scraps, garden waste). If you have a composting system, you could add the organic waste but non-recyclable waste like certain plastics, dirty packaging, batteries must be kept apart.
“There are approximately 18,5 million households in South Africa. Imagine the difference that we could make if every home separated rubbish from recyclables. Every small action adds up,” says Samantha Choles, communication manager at PAMSA.
According to the latest paper recycling statistics gathered by PAMSA, around 1,3 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging were collected from a pool of 1,8 million tonnes that is deemed recoverable for recycling.
This includes printing paper and various forms of paper packaging but excludes items such as toilet and tissue paper, and packaging that is exported.
“To borrow from Mahatma Gandhi’s words, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world,’ the reduction of humanity’s impact on this planet comes down to the power of one,” adds Choles, noting that every person can play a vital role in reducing the impact of waste in our communities and country.
Which papers are recyclable and which are not:
Desirable papers – Office/copy paper, Brown cardboard boxes, Grocery and takeaway bags, Cereal boxes, medicine boxes, Pizza boxes, Magazines and newspaper, Egg boxes and moulded fibre cup holders, Cores from toilet rolls and kitchen towels, Used beverage cartons for milk and fruit juice.
Undesirable papers – Tissue and toilet paper, kitchen towel and paper handtowels, laminated paper, very dirty paper plates, plastic coated or waxed paper, nappies and feminine hygiene products.
Let us all do our part to recycle, and reuse, and in the process save our planet.
