New data out on Monday has revealed a 32% increase in the tonnages of plastics recycled over the four years to the end of 2009, with the plastics recycling industry employing 4,800 people and creating as many as 35,000 jobs indirectly.
In releasing the results for its first annual SA Plastics Recycling survey, the South African Plastic Recycling Organisation (Sapro) found that 28.9% of all plastics packaging was recycled during the measured period, translating into 165,772 tons of packaging.
The group revealed that 48.8% of all recyclable materials were obtained from post-consumer sources, including landfills, while recycling a ton of waste had twice the economic impact of burying it in the ground, the results found.
In addition, recycling one additional ton of waste would pay 1,095 rand per ton more in salaries, produce 4,905 rand more in goods and services, and generate 1.3 million rand more in sales than disposing of it in a landfill.
According to the study, there were 200 to 220 plastics recycling manufacturers in SA, employing 4,800 people (directly), creating 35,000 jobs (indirectly) with an annual payroll of 250 million rand.
Annabe Pretorius, general manager for Sapro, said that the most significant effects of plastics recycling were job creation, the reduction of carbon footprints and the re-use of non-renewable resources.
“Without this industry there would be more than 35,000 employees who would not have work, and the industry is growing steadily, with more and more manufacturers being created, which is creating more jobs.”
In addition, many jobs are indirectly supported by recycling as collection entails waste picking, sorting and compacting/baling jobs. “The bulk of these people would be self-employed in the waste picking/harvesting aspect of recycling,” she adds. “About one third of them are employed by collectors and would be involved in recyclers, sorting, baling, collection and transport of recyclable materials.”
With regard to the cost implication on the economy, Pretorius explained that if people didn’t recycle, the first significant cost implication would be that 34,500 families would be without jobs and without an income. Secondly, there would be at least 400 less companies doing business in SA. Thirdly, certain products would be at least 20% more expensive, for example, carrier bags, refuse bags, furniture shrouds, irrigation piping, etcetera. In addition, municipalities would run out of landfill space sooner and would have to develop more landfill space.
Source: Business Report