SA Paper management group foresees immense potential for paper recycling

KAMPALA (Scrap Monster): Highlighting the immense potentials of paper recycling in South Africa, Dorota Boltman-Malone, Divisional Director, Rainbow Paper Management called upon businesses and organizations to protect environment by boosting recycling of paper documents, printing and packaging material.

Incidentally, South Africa’s paper recycling rate has leaped significantly over the past decade. The amount of paper recycling has increased by nearly 30% over the period and is expected to reach 63% by 2017, according to estimates provided by Paper Recycling Association of South Africa. Also, global paper consumption is expected to rise significantly over the next five years. As per World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) projection, worldwide paper consumption is estimated to rise from current levels of 400 million tonnes to approximately 450-500 million tonnes by 2020.

According to surveys conducted in 2014, almost 26% of the local organizations were found to have no proper paper recycling schemes in place. Dorota Boltman urged businesses to create inhouse paper recycling stations. Also, those businesses which cannot afford to have such facilities could approach certified recycling service provider, in order to become part of the initiative. Businesses must ensure that unwanted paper documents, magazines, books, newspapers and cardboard boxes are properly collected and recycled.

Industrialized paper wastage constitutes 35% of the municipal landfills in South Africa. Organizations could make a huge difference by promoting recycling in their premises. Moreover, paper is no longer a waste. It could become valuable resource, if recycled properly, added Dorota Boltman.