National Recycling Day: Most know how to recycle paper, but do they?

While most South Africans know what can be recycled, there's a gap between good intentions and action when it comes to paper recycling.

This week is South African National Clean-Up and Recycle Week, with National Recycling Day taking place on Friday, 19 September.

A survey by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) found that 20% of people don't recycle but want to – highlighting the need to "close the gap between intention and action", according to PAMSA communication manager Samantha Choles.

Encouraging signs show 81% of respondents understand what types of products can be recycled, and 74% recycle paper and cardboard consistently or occasionally. Approximately 69% of people recycle paper-based packaging, such as delivery boxes and food packaging. Only 5% never recycle paper and cardboard.

PAMSA notes the paper recycling industry collects around 1.2 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging yearly, diverting it from landfills into new products. "The way to close that gap is by raising awareness on the ins and outs of recycling and encouraging consumers to dispose of products responsibly," says Choles.

Some paper products can't be recycled due to coatings, contamination, or mixed materials. Removing non-paper elements, such as tape or staples, from recyclable paper helps ensure it is recycled properly.

Here’s a list of paper products that cannot be recycled:

Tissue products

• Tissues
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Toilet paper

Contaminated or dirty paper

• Paper plates and cups with food residue
• Waxy fast food wrappers
• Wet paper or cardboard
• Cement bags (due to the cement residue)

Paper with mixed materials, plastic coating and lamination

• Laminated office paper
• Photographs
• Wax-coated paper (like some fruit or meat wrappers)
• Foil- or plastic-lined paper or gift wrap
• Envelopes with plastic windows (some facilities can handle them)
• Paper envelope with bubble-wrap inners
• Paper with glitter, metallic ink, or embellishments

So, what should you recycle?

• Office/copy paper
• Brown cardboard boxes
• Grocery and takeaway bags
• Cereal boxes, medicine boxes, etc.
• Pizza boxes
• Magazines and newspapers
• Egg boxes and moulded fibre cup holders
• Centre cores from toilet rolls, kitchen towels, gift wrap, clingwrap, and tinfoil.
• Milk and juice cartons – remove the plastic closures, rinse lightly and flatten.
• Paper cups

Handy Tips: Have a simple separation system with bins for your rubbish and bins for your recycling. This ensures that your recyclable paper and cardboard will not get wet or dirty, and will stay in good condition until it gets to the recycling mill. These can be placed around the house, too, not just in the kitchen.