Besides its mandate to mitigate pollution and harm to the environment, the emerging trend of going green also provides an opportunity for the creation of small businesses in South Africa, says paper and plastic packaging and recycling company Mpact Recycling.

The recycling value chain is a broad one, as it begins from the time paper is used in packaging, then taken to factories and shops and eventually ending up in households, where it is used, says Mpact Recycling MD John Hunt.

After that, he adds, the paper needs to be collected again for recycling to take place.

Hunt says Mpact Recycling’s role is to collect the paper and deliver it to its paper mills for recycling, where it is converted into other paper products. Mpact Recycling creates an opportunity for recycling in the paper-collecting process for people to participate in the process, which has a positive socioeconomic impact.

“Our business model focuses on enabling other people to create small businesses, as they can collect paper in their areas and then send it to us.”

This, Hunt adds, has resulted in several people having expressed interest in being part of this initiative over the years.

Noting the growing need for recycling, Mpact Recycling started initiatives in residential areas, where it distributes bags that residents can simply fill with paper. This allows for convenient recycling by residents, as Mpact collects the paper in these areas after residents have left them outside on their pavement on the specified day of collection.

“We’ve also established buy-back centres where people have sorting and baling facilities for paper, and this provides further work opportunities, as Mpact pays them for the paper they collect. Over the years, we have helped more than 40 entrepreneurs start recycling businesses through this initiative,” Hunt explains.

These initiatives are based on assisting local entrepreneurs in establishing businesses and providing support for them by making available equipment and buying their collected material.

With various initiatives having worked well in creating jobs for people, Hunt says, Mpact Recycling hopes the small businesses created through recycling will become more sustainable business models that also further expand into rural areas.

“Currently, there is not enough awareness of the need to recycle in the rural areas and expanding into these areas is one of our mandates for the near future. “However, municipalities have to assist us in driving this initiative as they are more familiar with the people and conditions in a particular area.”

Mpact Recycling encourages the recycling of not only paper but also plastics, with its R350-million plastic recycling plant set for commissioning midyear.

“As with paper recycling, we hope to achieve the same success in involving people in the plastics recycling value chain so that they are able to [derive] an income from this as well.”