SA WASTE FIGURES PER ANNUM

◆ The waste management industry is worth about R25 billion.

◆ It recycles over 70% of used steel beverage cans, but only about 40.6% and 30% of glass and plastic packaging respectively.

◆ 95 million tons of waste goes to 826 landfill sites each year.

◆ Less than 40% of the total is recycled.

◆ 65 million tons of hazardous waste is produced each year, just 6% is recycled.

◆ Plastics recycling ‘continues to grow’, with more than 330 700 tons recycled annually (plastics recycling rate exceeds 43%, higher than Europe’s figure – 31%).

◆ Of the 350 000 tons of electronic scrap each year, 35 000 tons are recycled.