Recycling Paper in South Afica

Saving our rainforests is probably one of the easiest things to accomplish in South Africa when you are trying to fix this mess. Of course, the smaller version is that we are recycling paper, but that does not sound so huge and impressive. There are a few ways in which to do this:

Re-use scrap or draft paper by either re-using the blank side to print on again, or cutting the paper up to use for notes around the office. Children can draw on the other side as well.

Once paper has been completely used up, please recycle. The company that we use in the office is called Waste Paper Recycling (011 457 2727). To start with they drop of a cardboard box (or several) at your office or home and then once it is filled up, you give them a call and they come and pick it up.

Note that paper is not the only thing that can be recyled. At home you can recycle various types of packaging (please do have a look and see how many poducts are packaged in boxes that can be recycled), newspapers, pizza boxes and paper bags. I keep a canister at home and take it to work every week or so once it is filled up.

Waste recycling also pays for the paper they pick up (very little, but still) and they pay more for box or carton type recyclable products.

If you live in an area not covered by Waste Paper, please do phone Sappi (011 407 8111) and they will direct you. Also try their new range of Triple Green Poducts. This range serves the environment on 3 levels, and it is a world 1st: They use 60% sugar-cane fiber, the paper is chlorine free and they use sustainable afforestation. Wonderful!

Another way to safe our rainforests is to minimise printing altogether. We are going digital people so if you can email instead of posting an invoice or a card, save documentation on a disk o 2 instead of printing and storing them, get a second screen at work to view and control, etc.

ALSO please do go to this click site. You won't get any money, but every time you click they get paid and they use these funds to save our beautiful rainforests.

http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

ALSO try RAN's site. They will send you regular petitions so that you can help when it really counts no matter where you are.

http://ran.org/why_we_do_it/

One of the easiest ways to save our atmosphere is to plant a tree. Try and get the community involved in this as well, make it an office team effort if you can or get the local schools interested. We all plan for the long-term financially, teach your kids to plant for the long-term environmentally. And to keep the air at home clean, have as money house-plants as you can.

These people are fighting for our land and breath. We need to support them as much we can. Of course there are many other sites as well so surf and choose the one that works for you without overwhelming yourself. If it becomes a schlep it is just not fun anymore and you might loose all motivation.

If anyone has anymore suggestions, especially for South Africa, please do let me know.