In a world that seems to be drowning in waste, one of the best things we can do is instill a culture of separation-at-source and recycling. Separation-at-source is a simple practice of sorting our waste in our home, schools, or businesses before it gets collected and recycled.

Instead of throwing everything into one bin, you should separate items into different categories, such as:

• Recyclables (paper, plastic, glass, metal, e-waste)
• Organic waste (food scraps, garden waste) if you have a composting system
• Non-recyclable waste (things that can’t be reused or recycled, like certain plastics or dirty packaging).

“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 the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), the industry body that oversees the pulp and paper manufacturing sector, as well as the interests of paper recycling mills.

According 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 each and every person can play a vital role in reducing the impact of waste in our communities and country.

Here are some tips from PAMSA on how homes, schools and businesses can enhance their paper recycling habits:

1. Know your recyclables

Educate yourself on the types of paper that can and cannot be recycled. Here are some examples.

YES

• 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 towel
• Used beverage cartons e.g. milk and juice cartons*

NO

• 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.

You can also find information here.

2. Create space for your recycling

Invest in a sturdy container to keep your paper recycling separate from wet, organic and non-recyclable waste.

Keep your container in the kitchen or outside the back door, depending on the space you have. If it’s going to be placed outside, it should be covered.

It’s also a good idea to keep smaller recycling bins around your home, such as in the bathroom, for toilet roll cores and other paper packaging, or in your home office if you print documents from time to time.

3. Support informal recycling collectors or local recycling initiatives

Put your recyclables in a box or bag on your pavement for easy access for recycling collectors. They sell these items at buy-back centres. This means you are not only reducing your waste footprint, you are also supporting the livelihoods of others. You could also take your recycling to local collection points.

Other things you can do

• Recycle other items too such as plastic, cans and glass.
• Compost your organic or food waste
• Collect bottle tops and bread tags
• Recycle your polystyrene – it is mixed with cement to make light bricks

*There are limited processing facilities in South Africa but there are a number of collection programmes.