US recycled plastic scrap and resin markets were relatively stable in October, with some baled commodities experiencing rebound activity following widespread softness in the back half of the summer and fall. Overall demand is steady to soft, as some markets still experience slower seasonal trends.
Uncertainty surrounding US trade policy continues to delay contract negotiations, especially amid such weak virgin markets where buyers are seen to have the advantage.
Recycled content contractual volumes are heard to be flat to lower in 2026 as companies maintain regulatory requirements for recycled content, though many are scaling back voluntary adoption.
The October US-wide average price for spot market post-consumer recycled PET flake destined for packaging end markets dropped another 1% month on month and is down 11% year on year.
The October US-wide average price for spot market post-consumer, food grade RPET pellet is down 2% month on month and down 10% year on year.
The October average price for US spot market post-consumer, natural recycled HDPE pellet, including both food grade and non-food grade material, is down another 14% month on month but remains up 1% year on year.
The October average price for US spot market post-consumer, mixed colored recycled HDPE pellet is flat month on month though prices have seen declines in November.
The October average price for US spot market post-consumer, natural recycled LDPE pellet is down 3% month on month.
The October average prices for US spot market post-consumer, white recycled PP pellet are flat month on month though the black RPP pellet price declined slightly month on month, on growing virgin market pressure.
Pricing information comes from ICIS’s coverage of US recycled plastics markets, including bale, flake and pellet information across RPET, RPE and RPP. Prices shared above exclude transportation costs and “US-wide” averages take into consideration individual US East Coast and US West Coast prices provided by ICIS.
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