THE PAPER CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The paper industry relies on recycled paper to a large degree to produce paper. COVID and the lockdowns that impacted on the country meant that paper waste was not being brought to the recyclers and collection of waste paper from schools and offices due to lockdowns and remote working meant that there was far less waste paper available for collection.

Coupled with the lack of supply, local recyclers were looking to the export market as the prices offered internationally for waste paper was far higher than that offered domestically by the paper manufacturers.

The cost of paper is rising due to the increased demand and the lack of material. We are unlikely to completely deplete our paper supply, however it may well become an expensive form of packaging. During the pandemic and even now, there was a move to online buying, all of these are usually packaged in boxes or if you order from some chains, the groceries are bagged in paper. This, though undoubtedly better for the environment, means that there is a huge demand.

South Africa, or more specifically, KZN, experienced terrible flooding earlier in the year. This exacerbated the paper crisis as Sappi had to shut down three mills. The mills that were shut down were Saiccor, Tugela and Stanger mills along with the export facility. Some inventory was damaged and domestic deliveries were also impacted.

The paper situation is more stable as of late, paper mills affected have largely restarted and production is running again.

As consumers, we tend to think of paper in terms of a white sheet that we feed into a printer. The fact being that a paper crisis could affect much more than just our ability to print a report. Toilet paper and cardboard boxes, from eggs to our normal packaging for cereals etc. would be affected.

Whilst South Africa is light years behind the rest of the world in recycling, it is vital to make this easily recycled resource easy to collect. Just separating paper packaging, newspapers, magazines and general paper waste from school or home offices makes a difference. For most people not on a recycling route, the informal collectors will come past and collect the paper. They earn an income and if they don't have to sift through general garbage to find the paper, it is not only easier but also less messy and more hygienic.

Most schools have a recycling depot where waste paper can be dropped off. Not only is this a convenient place to get rid of unwanted paper, but it provides the school with revenue as they are paid by the recycler on the weight of the paper collected. For those who don’t have kids, there are other recycling centres throughout the country where you can drop off used paper. A quick internet search will tell you the closest centre in your area. The best idea though, if you don’t want to drive waste to a depot, is simply to leave the paper with your refuse and the informal collectors will collect; or drop it at your nearest school, they will be happy for the additional weight.

South Africans have become more conscious of the need to recycle, but as this is not a legal requirement, many still toss all garbage in the dustbin, regardless of whether or not it can be recycled.

If we commit to put all our efforts into recycling, we can avoid a crisis – not only in the paper industry but also for reduction of recyclable materials sent to landfills. Toilet paper is expensive enough without making it a rare commodity as well. We have quite enough to cope with given the fuel prices and the lack of electricity, we simply cannot afford a crisis involving toilet paper too. �