Recycling is not a sustainable solution.
Buying bottled water every day because the manufacturer tells you it is made from recycled plastic and recycled after use is just not good enough.
The abundance of plastic landing up in the oceans and landfills is more than our planet can withstand.
The option to recycle, is last on the REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE list for a reason. Not everything can and will be recycled! As a collective we have to reduce consumption first and foremost.
Plastic, glass, and paper are categorised into what can and cannot be recycled, here is a short breakdown to help you sort your waste:
Glass:
YES – Glass bottles, wine bottles, jam jars, sauce and spice bottles and plain drinking glasses
NO – Cups and saucers, ovenware, ceramics, mirror glass, fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, windscreens, car lights, window panes.
Cans:
YES: Beverage cans, food cans, aerosol cans and paint cans
Paper and Cardboard:
YES: Office paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, books, long-life cartons
NO: Plasticized or laminated paper, photographs, wax, greaseproof paper, carbon paper, adhesive tape, tissues, and serviettes.
Plastic:
YES: Cooldrink and water bottles, cleaning product bottles, milk bottles, yogurt pots, margarine and ice cream tubs, soft plastic bags, bubble wrap, cling wrap, crackly shopping bags, chunky polystyrene, plastic garden chairs, buckets, and flowerpots.
NO: Black plastic bags, black ridged trays, white polystyrene trays, containers, cups, plastic trays made from PET, plastic contaminated with oil, glue, or paint, chip packets and many biscuit wrappers.
Other items:
YES: Used printer cartridges, large batteries, e.g. those from gate motors, alarm systems, aluminium foil, e.g. pie plates, some yoghurt seals, foil food wrap, used cooking oil for manufacturing bio fuel, old X-Rays.
NO: Cassette and video tapes, domestic batteries such as torch batteries, rubber, vinyl, items made from mixed plastics and/or other materials, e.g. toothbrushes, pens, some toys.
As a consumer, look for the number on the container. Almost all recycling centres accept plastics #1 #2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and some #7’s. The containers that your fruit or favourite on-the-go sandwich comes in, is not currently recyclable in South Africa. Rather opt to buy your fruit unpackaged and put it in a reusable bag.
There is also a sustainable trend towards refillable shopping in SA. Some Spar stores have a liquid refill outside their stores where you can refill essentials like dishwashing liquid, cream cleaner and fabric softener. Just take your container and only pay for what you dispense. If you haven’t tried one, pack a few jars and reusable bags in and head over to experience a truly waste free shopping experience.
For more information visit www.plasticrecyclingsa.co.za
For a map of recycling locations visit Recycling and waste sites | Glass Paper Plastic Garden Rubble Refuse (sst.org.za)