In the last decade, an impressive 13 million tons of paper and packaging have been saved from landfills. By practicing responsible waste disposal and separation, we can recycle even more paper and cardboard into new, useful items, thereby helping to protect the environment.
South Africa (16 March 2025) – More than 13 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging have been recovered for recycling in South Africa over the past decade!
This, according to the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), is just in time for Global Recycling Day on 18 March.
Nearly 40 million cubic metres of landfill space have been saved, and paper and cardboard have been put back into the recycling loop as a useful raw material in paper packaging and tissue manufacturing.
These 40 million cubic metres would cover 2,411 football fields or 1,708 rugby pitches or fill 15,900 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
In 2024 alone, the nation recycled 1.2 million tonnes of paper, demonstrating a continued commitment to this vital practice.
“This is from an available pool of 1.95 million tonnes of recyclable products such as magazines, brochures, newspapers, corrugated boxes, paper bags and office paper,” says Samantha Choles, communications manager of PAMSA.
However, while South Africa’s recycling rate aligns with the global average, a significant portion of recyclable materials still ends up in landfills, contaminated by wet waste or lost to litter. This highlights a crucial gap between potential and reality.
How to give your paper and cardboard a second life:
Choles adds that greater awareness and conscientious action will drive a culture of separating our household waste from recyclables.
“There are several easy steps we can all take to make sure that our recyclables are not added to the mountains of waste in our landfills but are rather put to good use.”
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1. Have a simple separation system
Keep your rubbish and recyclables in separate bins. 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 around the house, too, not just in the kitchen.
2. Know what can and can’t be recycled
Not all paper and packaging products are recyclable. This is because some products have been treated to perform functions and cannot be processed by recycling mills.
Certain non-paper materials can cause blockages and damage to paper recycling machines. These include tissue, toilet paper, plastic coated or waxed, paper/cardboard, diapers and sanitary towels.
3. Get it back into the recycling system
If you don’t live in a municipality that provides a recycling collection service, there are a few more extra steps you will need to take.
4. Put your recycling out for your neighbourhood recycling collectors
Choles also encouraged us to put out our white paper, brown cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, and even used milk and juice cartons for recycling collectors. By doing so, we’re not only doing a service for the environment but also supporting someone’s livelihood.
There are also a number of small businesses that offer a paid service to collect your recyclables. This will require a bit of research online or by word of mouth.
By taking these straightforward steps and getting ourselves informed about better ways to manage our waste, we can collectively ensure that paper and cardboard are given a second life, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
Sources: Supplied
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