Over the last two years, South Africa’s paper recycling has improved. Let’s extend that impact even further over the next two – here’s how!
South Africa (19 March 2026) – Yesterday was Global Recycling Day, and we received some happy news from the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) to mark the occasion…
South Africa’s paper recycling rate reached 63.3% in 2025, up from 60% in 2024!
Every year, an incredible 1.2 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging get a second chance at life! Thanks to the tireless efforts of paper mills, a nationwide network of collectors, dedicated small recycling businesses, and hardworking waste pickers, all that material is kept out of landfills and brought back into the recycling loop, where it’s transformed into brand-new paper products like packaging and tissue.
The 3.3% climb in paper recycling is a positive step in the right direction, however PAMSA says that there’s still room for consumers to make an even greater impact. If more of us made a concerted effort to recycle properly, we’d prevent so much more from going into landfills.
“Unfortunately, a substantial volume is still ending up in landfill or the environment due to poor waste separation and recycling habits,” says Samantha Choles, communications manager for PAMSA.
That starts at home, and even at the office.
Office paper and paper packaging are both widely used and highly recyclable, which makes them a great starting point for boosting South Africa’s recycling rate.
“We really want to encourage people to put cardboard boxes and paper bags out for collection by informal collectors,” says Choles. “If these materials are placed in wheelie bins, they often become dirty and wet, making them far more difficult to recover and recycle.”
PAMSA is appealing to businesses, schools and homes to help improve the recycling of office paper. It’s a small step that, if millions of South Africans took together, would help the environment by diverting from landfills, which are filling up rapidly.
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“By making a few simple changes at home, work and school, consumers can help ensure that paper products get a second life instead of ending up in landfills, which are rapidly nearing capacity.”
Every tonne of recycled paper saves around three cubic metres of landfill space, PAMSA shares. If baled, the recovered material would cover the equivalent of 218 football fields or 154 rugby fields, fill 1438 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or stretch 1797 kilometres if laid end to end – roughly the distance from Cape Town to the Kruger National Park!
Three simple ways to recycle more paper:
1. Know what can be recycled
A lot of everyday paper items can actually be recycled – office paper, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, magazines, newspapers, and even milk and beverage cartons! Just keep in mind that very wet or dirty paper products, tissues, nappies, and laminated paper are better off in the general waste bin.
2. Keep paper separate, clean and dry
Giving your paper and cardboard the best chance at a new life is easy. Just keep them away from wet or food waste so they stay in good condition for recycling. Where you can, remove plastic windows, tape, staples, or other non-paper bits before popping them in the recycling.
3. Support local recycling systems
There are more ways to recycle than you might think! Put recyclables out for neighbourhood collectors, make use of municipal recycling programmes, or drop materials off at a nearby recycling centre or shopping mall recycling point.
“Every cereal box, cardboard box or office document that is separated for recycling helps keep valuable fibre in the production loop,” says Choles. “By building simple recycling habits, consumers can help South Africa continue improving its recycling rate.”
For more paper recycling info, follow this link!
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