The 2015 25% unemployment statistic – a 12 year high thus far – should act as a fillip to the country’s citizens to think “outside the box”. And one of the best ways in which this challenge can be addressed is through the recycling industry, which is a “significant growth enabler”, says John Hunt, Mpact Recycling.
“The recycling industry has shown leadership in turning this tide and delivering economic and social benefits by building sub-industries that promote entrepreneurship as well as create tangible employment,” he explains.
Hunt believes that, palpably, the recycling industry has shown leadership in turning this tide and delivering economic and social benefits by building sub-industries that promote entrepreneurship as well as create tangible employment.
Through its social entrepreneurship model, Mpact Recycling, South Africa’s largest paper recycler and a division of the JSE-listed Mpact Paper and Plastic Packaging Group (Mpact Group), partners with local entrepreneurs who help to collect recycled paper.
To ensure that the local recycling entrepreneurs are equipped to succeed and grow, Mpact Recycling provides and installs equipment such as balers at its country dealers and suppliers. These machines compress waste paper into cubes or bales, which helps the owners to increase the volumes they are able to process and to reduce the time it takes to do so. The technology also allows the centres to process and store more waste paper, effectively increasing the volume of their sales to Mpact Recycling.
Mpact encourages small business entrepreneurs to start paper and board collection businesses, whilst receiving advice, training, (and dependent on the tonnages) equipment. This is aimed at creating employment for people in local communities.
The Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) estimates that the recycling industry employs in the region of 100, 000 in South Africa.
