Over the past 10 years, more than 11.3 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging have been recovered for recycling in South Africa. However, only clean and dry recyclables are valuable recyclables. That’s why Mpact Recycling is encouraging you to participate in their unique take on #DryJanuary.

While inflation rises, the housing crisis persists, and floods continue to threaten, it’s also sobering to think about the environment.

At Mpact Recycling, they are on a mission to help alleviate detrimental environmental factors through their integrated business model. The recycling business strives to help the planet and its people by continually maximising value and minimising waste.

So, how can we maximise this value together?

Consider your recyclables

Recyclables diverted from landfill are just as important to our environment as they are valuable to you, the recyclable-seller. However, by keeping them clean and dry, you can ensure they will actually be recycled. For instance, if white office paper or cardboard becomes contaminated with rainwater or mud, these items may not be recycled. Likewise, if rocks gather between cardboard or plastic bales, this will cause serious issues to our equipment when baling the recyclables.

One rotten bale could spoil the whole recycled load. Contaminated recyclables run the risk of not being recycled, you not earning any money from them, and landfill space carrying the consequences.

Be considerate and keep recyclables dry.

When a batch of recyclables is contaminated, there’s a good chance it’ll be rejected and end up in the landfill. In other words, because of that one problematic thing you tried to recycle, tons of properly recycled items get landfilled. Recycling industry experts agree that this is a tragedy, and it runs completely counter to what recycling is all about.

Store clean recyclables in a bag of their own to help them retain their integrity so that they may be recycled.

Mpact Recycling has 15 operational branches countrywide including across Gauteng, the North-West Province, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Their state-of-the-art facilities accept clean paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and aluminium. Mpact Recycling’s Bridge City branch houses 70,000 m2 worth of recyclables under one roof.

That’s roughly the size of 2-and-half rugby fields worth of

“We’re making strides to ensure that your recyclables are kept dry so that the best quality cardboard is collected for recycling and, in turn, the highest quality recycled cardboard boxes are put back onto the shelves. Let’s keep recyclables clean to ensure that they’re recycled, says Mpact in a press release.

FIVE DON’TS TO KEEP RECYCLABLES CLEAN

1. Don’t mix white paper and water together.
2. Don’t soak cardboard in muddy water.
3. Don’t fill bales of cardboard with heavy objects, like rocks.
4. Don’t fill PET bottles with liquids i.e., cooldrinks.
5. Don’t fill recyclable bottles with sand and soil.