Make sure your paper products and packaging do not go to landfill

RecyclePaperZA releases ready-to-use graphics for designers and retailers to promote recycling

RecyclePaperZA, the South African paper recycling association, has produced a set of graphics that just about anyone can apply on paper-based packaging and communication materials.  The basic message is short and simple: Recycle this product – whether it be a box, a brochure or a document. The graphics are available Adobe Illustrator, EPS and Jpeg formats.

“The first step in the recycling process is separation-at-source,” says Anele Sololo, manager: training and operations for RecyclePaperZA. “It helps to reduce the amount of re-usable paper-based material going to landfill by keeping it clean and dry before until it reaches paper mills that make it into new products that we use every day.”

There are many paper-based products that do not overtly encourage recycling and as a result end up being thrown in with general rubbish and wet waste, leading to contamination of the paper fibre. “We want businesses and brand owners to extend their responsibility by helping consumers know what should be put into a paper recycling bin and what is general waste.”

Last year, the paper recycling industry, conscientious consumers and thousands of collectors kept 1.3 million tonnes* of paper, paper boxes and liquid packaging out of landfill. This amount would fill 1,539 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“However, there are still many people who do not know what is recyclable. By printing these graphics on products can be separated from wet and non-recyclable waste, we hope that consumers will be actively encouraged to separate at source,” says Sololo.

The graphics can be downloaded here.

For more information, please visit www.recyclepaper.co.za.

* This represents 70% of the 1.8 million tonnes of paper available for recovery and excludes books, archived records and unrecyclable paper like toilet tissue.