Central SA
National Recycling Week: South Africans take action─── REFILWE BEKANE 13:00 Thu, 18 Sep 2025
National Clean-Up and Recycle Week, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable living, is observed this week, with the campaign reaching its peak on Friday (19/9) on National Recycling Day.
The week aims to encourage citizens to rethink waste and embrace the power of reuse. A recent survey by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) shows a significant portion of the population faces a gap between their intentions and actions regarding paper recycling.
According to the survey, 20% of individuals admit to not recycling, but express a desire to do so. This finding, says Pamsa’s communication manager Samantha Choles, underscores the urgent need to close the gap between intention and action.
According to the survey, 20% of individuals admit to not recycling. Photo: Pamsa
The survey also reveals encouraging trends. An 81% majority of respondents indicate they have a clear understanding of which paper products are recyclable, an increase from the previous year.
Furthermore, three-quarters of those surveyed state they recycle paper and cardboard, either consistently or occasionally.
Choles notes that the national paper recycling industry already makes a substantial contribution, collecting an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of paper and packaging annually. This volume is successfully diverted from landfills and repurposed into new products.
What to recycle, what to avoid
“As a general guideline, clean paper and cardboard are suitable for recycling,” Choles explains. This includes everyday items such as office paper, brown cardboard boxes, grocery bags, and most packaging, like cereal or medicine boxes.
She recommends recycling magazines, newspapers, and cardboard cores from rolls. Milk and juice cartons can also be recycled, provided their plastic closures are removed, and the cartons are rinsed and flattened.
Clean paper and cardboard are suitable for recycling. Photo: Pamsa
However, she warns against recycling tissue products, wet or contaminated paper, laminated paper, and mixed materials like plastic or foil, since current re-pulping technology cannot process them.
“Have a simple separation system with bins for your rubbish and bins for your recycling. 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,” she says.
