South Africa’s paper recycling rate hits 63.3% as PAMSA calls for better separation habits

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s paper recycling rate has climbed to 63.3 percent in 2025, up from 60 percent the previous year, with 1.2 million tonnes of paper and paper packaging diverted from landfill through a nationwide network of collectors.

The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa released the figures marking Global Recycling Day on 18 March, highlighting progress while noting significant room for improvement.

Through paper mills and a network that includes small recycling businesses and informal waste pickers, recovered paper is transformed into new packaging and tissue products.

The Numbers Behind the Achievement

Every tonne of recycled paper saves approximately three cubic metres of landfill space. South Africa’s paper recycling industry has recovered more than 13 million tonnes over the past decade, saving nearly 40 million cubic metres of landfill capacity.

Samantha Choles, communications manager at PAMSA, explained that office paper and paper packaging, including cardboard boxes and grocery bags, are both widely used and highly recyclable, making them key to further improving the recycling rate.

The Informal Sector’s Vital Role

Choles urged consumers to put cardboard boxes and paper bags out for collection by informal collectors rather than placing them in wheelie bins, where they often become dirty and wet, making recovery far more difficult.

This appeal carries particular urgency as landfill capacity diminishes, with Johannesburg’s Marie Louise landfill reaching capacity in January 2026.

Informal reclaimers who rely on retrieving recyclables from these sites face potential loss of income, highlighting the economic stakes of improved recycling habits.

Simple Steps for Greater Impact

PAMSA is appealing to businesses, schools, and households to help improve office paper recycling. Choles advised placing containers at printers, desks, and in classrooms to make recycling easier.

By making a few simple changes, consumers can help ensure paper products get a second life instead of ending up in landfills rapidly nearing capacity.

The association also provided guidance on proper recycling: keep paper and cardboard separate from wet or food waste, remove non-paper elements like plastic windows and staples, and support local recycling systems through neighbourhood collectors, municipal programmes, or shopping centre drop-off points.

Building Momentum

Recent survey data shows South Africans increasingly favour paper packaging, with 64 percent wanting online orders delivered in paper packaging and 80 percent preferring fit-for-size parcels that avoid excess materials.

Choles concluded that every cereal box, cardboard box, or office document separated for recycling helps keep valuable fibre in the production loop.

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