Waste Not, Want Not - How Recycling Protects Valuable Raw Materials

Recycling is one of South Africa's growing success stories - celebrate, support and join this meaningful journey.

South Africa may not have a great record when it comes to littering, but our paper recycling statistics are worth celebrating.

According to the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa, the nation's paper recycling rate is 61.4%.

"This is not too far from Europe's paper recycling rate of 72%, which is the highest in the world," says Danielle King, market development analyst at Mpact Recycling, which collects around 700 000 tonnes of recovered recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and cans) per annum.

SA's metal can recovery rate is even higher - 72% in 2021. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) rate was 63%. PET is the plastic used to make most plastic bottles.

"Our country's reliance on informal collectors and manual sorting methods has not hindered SA from becoming one of the most effective recycling industries worldwide."

Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers, which produces and prints the newspaper you are reading, recognises the vital role that paper plays in everyday life, and the need to nurture and use it sustainably. Its Paper Pledge is a promise to promote environmentally friendly practices in all business units, divisions and branches around the country.

"We endorse the work done by companies like Mpact Recycling, which works to stop recyclable materials from ending up in the country's under- pressure landfill sites. Instead, these valuable resources are returned to the manufacturing cycle," says Jaco Koekemoer, group executive for Caxton and CTP Commercial Printing.

Through end-to-end supply chain integration, Mpact is committed to innovative packaging and sustainable practices in the design, production and recycling of packaging materials.