What You Should Be Recycling in South Africa

Want to reduce your carbon footprint and recycle more efficiently? Because each country has a different recycling system, we’ll tell you what you should be recycling in South Africa. What can and can’t be recycled might seem obvious to some, but there are tricks to the trash game.

Why recycling matters

Many resources on earth are non-renewable, meaning we should make better efforts to use sustainable energy resources. It also helps minimise landfill waste, which is important for wildlife conservation and creating a circular economy.

It’s not just the waste collector’s job to take care of the trash. To sustain our planet, we need to take better care of it to protect future generations.

What to recycle

If you want to make a difference, here’s what you can recycle in South Africa…

Metal

Recycling metal is quite simple. The only thing that you need to be wary of is rusted metals, as very few depots are able to recycle them.

Aluminium cooldrink cans and tinned food cans (tuna, baked beans, beer, etc.) are good to go. Try to remove the label before recycling it.
Instead of chucking that tin foil in the trash, clean it, smooth it out and recycle it.
Aerosol cans can be recycled in SA, so set aside those paint, deodorant and spray-and-bake cans. It’s important the label is still intact as some of the products contain hazardous substances, which the handlers need to make sure of.
Difficult to recycle non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminium, stainless steel, rusted metals and more.
Certain metals and other materials are difficult to recycle, as they require special machinery that many recycling companies don’t have. Check with your recycler whether they can recycle non-ferrous metals.

Glass

When it comes to recycling in SA, we get to look at the glass both half-empty and half-full. According to Consol, we consume over 3.1 tonnes of glass and that’s just in one year, it goes without saying that this is a glass-half-empty dilemma.

If we look at the glass half-full, two-thirds of what we consume is actually recyclable; this should encourage everyone to recycle, especially glass.

Recycling glass isn’t just a matter of tossing it in the trash, you need to ensure that the contents of the bottle have been emptied and the insides of the bottles are dry.
Wine lovers, save those wine bottles and rinse them before recycling.
The same goes for food jars, scrape out and rinse them. The lids are recyclable too.
Non-recyclable in SA: drinking glasses; lightbulbs, mirrors and Pyrex, as they’re made from a different type of glass material and they have different melting points. Although not ideal, you would need to separate it before disposing of it in your general waste.

Paper

Besides being used as a communication medium, paper plays a vital role in our lives, from protecting food to displaying key information on products. When it comes to recycling paper, it’s important that the fibres remain intact, as moisture degrades the quality.

Most paper types are recyclable in SA, except laminated kinds. You can recycle white office paper; non-laminated magazines/books; newspapers and cardboard boxes.
Liquid Board Packaging (Tetra Pak, Nampak, etc.) used to contain fruit juice and milk, is recyclable. Currently, only two local mills (both in Gauteng) are able to do so.
Non-recyclable in SA: used paper plates, serviettes and tissues, as the moisture degrades the paper fibres; wax-coated, laminated or foil-lined boxes; laminated paper, sticky notes.

Plastic

Most plastics are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and are recyclable up to eight times, according to Plastics SA, but it’s rather difficult for smaller recycling companies to recycle, as the process requires special equipment. Another reason to lead a plastic-free lifestyle is the fact that plastic is made using oil, which is a non-renewable source.

Hard plastic containers like ice cream tubs; milk/juice/water bottles; plastic bags and cleaning product containers made of plastic (bleach or dishwashing liquid) are all recyclable. Before handing them over, empty the contents, rinse and dry your bottles.
The only plastic that’s really non-recyclable is clingwrap. Most plastics are made using PVC, which is recyclable. Clingwrap is, however, composed of complex chemicals, making it malleable. Rather opt for foil as an alternative to clingwrap.
Not sure whether a certain plastic type (PVC/LPDE/PET) is recyclable? Check the label.

If you’d like to minimise your plastic waste when it comes to cleaning and hygiene products, you can refill your cleaning products at The Green Tap, an eco-friendly refill store.

Electronics & Batteries

Not sure what to do with your faulty laptop or old batteries? E-waste is totally recyclable.

Batteries are a different story – because they are toxic and contain chemicals, it’s important to remove them from electronic devices and place them separately from the rest of your trash. We recommend purchasing the rechargeable kind. Not only are they more eco-friendly, they have a longer lifespan.

TIP: Different battery types should not be grouped together, as they could short-circuit. Lithium batteries are highly reactive compared to other battery types and should be discarded separately. If etched to the hardware, you would need a private recycler to detach and dispose of it…

What about old batteries and fluorescent lightbulbs? Some local retailers have drop-off sites where you can discard them responsibly. Visit your nearest Pick n Pay or Woolworths battery recycling site.