How does recycling work in South Africa?

The nation recycles over 70% of used steel beverage cans while the rates for glass and plastic packaging are 42% and 30% respectively. South Africa sends around 95 million tonnes of waste to its 826 landfill sites and less than 40% of the materials are recycled, according to analysts at Research & Markets.

Do people recycle in South Africa?

In South Africa, the landfill capacity is fast becoming an impending crisis. With only 7.5% of South African’s recycling, we currently have over 90% of waste produced ending up in landfills. It is common knowledge in the Waste industry, that 60% of the waste produced at source can be recycled.

What is recyclable South Africa?

Items that can be recycled in South Africa: – Metal: cans, food tins, paint tins, aerosol cans (these can be recycled through collectacan.co.za) – Glass: tomato sauce bottles, jam and mayonnaise bottles, juice, wine and beer bottles and jars (visit theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za to find a glass recycling bank near you)

When did recycling start in South Africa?

2001
Since 2001, a waste recycling economy has emerged in South Africa, but as the last official waste statistics show, the country has only been able to divert 10% of the waste generated away from landfill towards recycling [1].

How much recycling is done in South Africa?

South Africa recorded an input recycling rate of 43.2 % during 2020. 461 500 tons of plastic waste were collected for recycling, of which 312 600 tons were successfully recycled back into raw materials.

How big is the recycling industry in South Africa?

Plastics recycling is a growing sector In 2018, South Africa collected 519 370 tonnes of plastic waste. Of this volume, 352 000 tonnes were recycled into raw plastics and other products – breaking the 350 000 tonne mark for the first time ever. This represents a 46.3% input recycling rate for all plastic products.

How many people in South Africa recycle?

In 2018, South Africa collected 519 370 tonnes of plastic waste. Of this volume, 352 000 tonnes were recycled into raw plastics and other products – breaking the 350 000 tonne mark for the first time ever. This represents a 46.3% input recycling rate for all plastic products.

Is South Africa doing enough to promote recycling?

It is a sad reality that in South Africa, recyclables are still being sourced from landfill at high cost and danger to the waste pickers.” Admittedly, the South African waste management infrastructure is not quite jacked up to promote individual recyclable waste management.

What percentage of South Africans recycle?

Back to News For seven years running, South Africa’s plastic recycling rate has continued to grow. In 2017, the country recycled almost 335 000 tonnes of plastic waste – a recycling rate of 43.7% – which is more than the current European recycling rate of 31.1%. These statistics were recently announced by Plastics SA.