Kappa Star Recycling (KSR), a licensed operator for the collection, transport and treatment of non-hazardous waste, cooperates with more than 10,000 suppliers throughout Serbia.
Our waste transport vehicles are branded and share a clear message about what we do, and this is one form of our advertising.
Vojkan Bacić, menadžer nabavke starog papira kompanije “Kappa Star Recycling“, rekao je na početku razgovora za portal SRDA da kompanija, osim starog papira i kartona, vrši i otkup otpadne folije, polietilena, polipropilena, PET ambalaže, otpadnog drveta, otpadnog ambalažnog stakla, limenki… Nedavno je KSR izvadio i dozvolu za sakupljanje opasnog otpada.
What does the process of collecting packaging waste look like
Packaging waste collection begins with reaching an agreement with clients and individuals regarding the method of collection, quantity, prices and other items that accompany the process. Therafter, Kappa Star Recycling drivers go to the place where the paper and other waste was temporarily stored, i.e. where the waste was generated, pick up the packaging waste, and the vehicle returns to our unit for unloading.
When it reaches the unit, the vehicle stops at the weighing station, where the inbound control determines the quality, type, sort, as well as the first basic analysis of the received goods. A record is with all the items that are necessary to complete the procurement process (quantity, quality analysis, type of waste, etc.) and in accordance with that, the supplier, per the contracted obligation, is paid a fee, and the waste movement document is certified.
Later on, when the waste is unloaded, it goes to the sorting line, where employees remove impurities that have different properties than the sorted waste. For example, if mixed paper and cardboard have been received, and there is a certain amount foil or film therein, it must be separated.
The sorted packaging waste goes to the press, where the first mechanical baling is carried out, and the waste is pressed into a bale weighing about 500 kilograms.
The bale is tightly tied with a bailing wire, the machine does everything automatically, and in this way, it is deposited in the place intended for storage, to be transported by a tow truck or an internal truck to the Umka Cardboard Factory which the most important customer of Kappa Star Recycling.
More than 240,000 tons of packaging waste recycled
Last year, the company Kappa Star Recycling together with its subsidiary companies from the regional countries it operates in (BiH, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro), collected more than 240,000 tons of non-hazardous waste.
– In Serbia, it is as much as 110,000 tons of collected waste paper and cardboard, 5,000 tons of waste foil, 2,250 tons of PET packaging, 9,000 tons of packaging glass, 3,000 tons of packaging wood and about 750 tons of waste cans and other metals, which makes Kappa Star Recycling a leader in their field of operation on the territory of Serbia – our interviewee said.
Archive paper, such as that from banks, cardboard from supermarkets, paper from printers, newsprint, and transport boxes are collected as waste paper.
– The largest part is waste paper, which is our most important activity, we collect in order to ensure a continuous recycling process in the Umka Cardboard Factory. The Umka Cardboard Factory is the largest producer of chromo board in Southeast Europe and it is made from 100% recycled material – said Bacić.
Kappa Star Recycling employs more than 500 persons.
KSR operates in ten cities in Serbia where it has working units: Niš, Kragujevac, Čačak, Kruševac, Kraljevo, Vršac, Novi Sad, Smederevo, Šabac, Priština, as well as in two large centres in Belgrade – in Zemun and Umka..
Companies submit packaging waste for recycling
According to our interviewee, anyone who wants to recycle can simply do so by contacting the company.
– We operate at 12 locations on the territory of Serbia, either directly or through our units and operators, and we strive to ensure that everyone can get information on where they can hand over and sell their recyclable waste and take part in this business.
The Kappa Star Recycling company cooperates with non-hazardous packaging waste generators from various industries, including trade chains, printers, cardboard companies, state administrations, factories and local companies that deal with the collection of non-hazardous waste.
Among the largest suppliers, our interviewee named some of the largest business entities, including Delhaize Serbia, Mercator-S, Lidl, Heineken, Swisslion, NIS, ministries and other state institutions, the City of Belgrade.
– We cooperate by making contact, signing a contract, thereafter our representative would visit the respective site, because it is important to assess whether our collaborators have the conditions for setting up collection containers, technical capabilities, etc. – said Bacić.
After that, Kappa Star Recycling installs the type of equipment they estimate is the best solution for that company, i.e. the containers, bins, baskets, large presses, etc.
KSR has formed a special branch that will deal with the collection of packaging paper, i.e. white archival paper in smaller companies, law offices, offices of public enforcement officers and notaries, etc. This means that office paper collection boxes will be installed in many businesses with a small number of employees. When the boxes are filled, KSR will come to collect the waste paper.
Citizens can participate in recycling
In addition to a large number of companies, many individuals cooperate with Kappa Star Recycling, with more interested therein every day.
– In the last two to three years, there has been a trend of individuals contacting us, which makes us especially happy. As a company present with more than 80 vehicles on the territory of Serbia every day, we are somewhat responsible for this. Our waste transport vehicles are branded and share a clear message about what we do, and this is one form of our advertising. The very important factor is that we have been cooperating for years with the companies, state authorities and individuals, so we have been visible to everyone for a very long time now.
Via Facebook and Instagram KSR informs individuals and legal persons about current events related to the preservation of the environment, and provides methods and practical advice regarding the proper disposal and use of waste in order to preserve the value of this resource and preserve the environment.
KBacić highlighted the enormous support of packaging waste management system operators as a particularly important factor..
– National packaging waste management system operators on the territory of Serbia, through extended responsibility of companies, encourage us to reach the prescribed goals for recycling of all packaging materials year after year through support in investments and costs incurred by certain collection processes. By cooperating with them, we can succeed in raising the level of collection and recycling, from the companies, to local self-government units, and to individuals who contact us every day with the desire to recycle their waste and do something good for the environment.
Environmental awareness
Bacić said that errors occur when separating waste because we do not have the habit of separating packaging waste at the source.
– Very often, in places where packaging waste is supposed to be separated, paper, plastic and film are mixed. First of all, the problem is our habit, which we must change if we want to preserve the environment. On the other hand, all that packaging waste that someone throws away or disposes of is a waste of a resource. Every piece of paper or PET bottle is a resource that can be reused and that’s why it has value.
However, Bacić explained that not everything is so negative, because younger generations have the awareness of environmental protection and waste separation. Kappa Star Recycling is partially responsible for this, as it cooperates with many schools, kindergartens and, together with national operators, organizes activities for the education of young people.
Increase the amount of collected waste
The KSR director Marko Janković, revealed us the main goals the company has set for the upcoming period – the first one being to increase the amount of collected packaging waste.
– Our goals are based on expanding the portfolio of other types of non-hazardous waste, maintaining a leadership position, raising occupational safety and health standards, modernizing equipment, working on the company visibility through fleet unification, and continuing investments in fuel-efficient vehicles –Janković said and added:
We see the future of recycling in Serbia in the construction of recycling centres, with our role in making public-private partnerships, which would enable the development of primary selection in our country, and thus contribute to environmental protection through increased recycling rates.