It is estimated that only 8% of businesses recycle their used paper and board, and the most well-intentioned recyclers might make mistakes. Even the most paperless offices use paper: from ultra-protective cardboard box for computer equipment to the box that the tea bags come in.

The Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) outlines some of the more common recycling blunders with some helpful tips to make sure that paper and board get to where they need to be.

Most important to remember is that waste paper and cardboard needs to be sent to recycling companies in a good, clean state so they can be reprocessed and made into new paper products.

Mistake 1: Putting non-recyclable paper products into the recycling bin

Even though they are made of paper, a number of items are not suitable for recycling due to contamination or elements such as waxes, foils, laminates and glues. Such items include: dirty paper plates, cigarette butts, tissue and toilet paper, paper towel, sticky notes, carbon paper, foil-lined, wax-coated and laminated papers, cement and dog food bags.

How to fix it

• Educate employees about what is recyclable and what is not;
• Use printable material and posters available on www.recyclepaper.co.za for office communal areas.

RECYCLABLE

NOT RECYCLABLE

·      Magazines and brochures, including glossy varieties ·      Newspapers ·      Office and shredded paper, envelopes ·      Cardboard boxes of any kind – dry food, cosmetic and medicine boxes; roll cores, packing cartons (flattened) ·      Old telephone directories and books ·      Envelopes ·      Paper giftwrap ·      Milk, beverage and food cartons (such as Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc liquid packaging)

·      Wet or dirty paper and cardboard ·      Used paper plates, disposable nappies, tissues and toilet paper ·      Wax-coated, foil-lined or laminated boxes ·      Cement and dog food bags ·      Foil gift wrapping, carbon and laminated paper

Mistake 2: Food contamination

When wet waste such as food waste, cigarette butts and soiled take-away containers ends up in the paper recycling bin, this contaminates the paper and reduces its value. Paper also starts to degrade andfibre strength reduces.

How to fix it

• Set-up a two-bin system – receptacles for paper recycling and bins for food, liquid and non-recyclable waste with clear and simple messaging and graphics;
• Remind employees around the importance of separation — and remind them often.
• Contact one of PRASA’s members about paper recycling boxes from Mpact Recycling, Sappi ReFibre and Neopak Recycling.

Mistake 3: Making it difficult and time-consuming for employees to recycle

A study about container proximity showed that only 28% of paper was recycled where recycling containers were centrally located, but when recycling containers were placed in close proximity (on desks for example) to participants, 85% to 94% of all recyclable paper was recycled. It turns out we’re all human and nobody likes to walk too far to throw something away.

How to fix it

• Ensure that each desk is equipped with a tray or office recycler solely for paper and board;
• Install paper recycling receptacles in key locations:
  • At each desk
  • At each printing or copying station
  • In meeting and break rooms, and kitchen areas
  • In reception
• For every paper recycling bin, there should be a general waste bin alongside it.

Mistake 4: Not knowing what to do with your recyclables

Your office has collected all this paper that it doesn’t know what to do with, and after a while, it all ends up in the general rubbish.

How to fix it

• Involve cleaning teams in recycling initiatives;
  • If waste streams are mixed, the recyclable paper will be contaminated and become worthless – this renders the recycling programme fruitless
• Assign a sheltered area in which to keep recycled paper clean and dry;
• Where possible, keep office paper (mainly white bond paper) separate from newspapers and magazines and cardboard boxes;
• Partner with a recycling collection agent that meets your needs – this could be a service offered by a big company, a smaller business or an informal collector who can benefit from your paper collection;
• Visit mywaste.co.za for collection programmes or buy-back centres in your area;
• Support a local school or charity’s recycling fundraising initiatives (e.g. the Ronnie Recycler programme) as your recyclable paper could boost the tonnages they collect and increase the funds raised;
• Visit recyclepaper.co.za for a list of its members.