Mechanical recyclers across North America have the capacity right now to recycle significantly more plastic, says APR CEO Steve Alexander. | Natallia Boroda/Shutterstock
Plastics recycling works — when the system works with it.
That’s not a slogan. It’s a reality backed by data and by decades of experience from the companies and communities that make up the plastics recycling value chain.
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PET bales for recycling. | Lipik Stock Media/Shutterstock
Prices for PET, HDPE and PP bales saw significant drops again this month, while film grades edged lower.
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Editor’s Note: This is a monthly PCR resin pricing analysis contributed by commodity intelligence firm ICIS.
Most U.S. recycled plastic feedstock markets have seen dramatic downward swings through the first half of the year. According to recent earnings calls from several industry groups, H2 sales are expected to be flat, if not weaker, than H1.
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Fire Rover analyzed nine years of data to discover trends in recycling facility fires. | Photo courtesy of Boston Fire Department
Across North America, recycling and waste management facilities are experiencing an increase in reported fires, with 2025 predicted to reach a new annual high. A recent special report by Fire Rover highlights this trend, attributing the record-high reported numbers and escalating financial risks to factors such as lithium-ion batteries, escalating demands from insurers and inadequate control measures. Continue Reading
‘Break Up With Single-Use Bags’ campaign rolls out at over 1,000 Southern California stores ahead of the state’s 2026 plastic bag ban, aiming to shift habits early. | Photo Courtesy of Closed Loop Partners
A coalition of major retailers and local stores has launched a campaign across more than 1,000 Southern California locations this week to help customers kick the habit of using disposable shopping bags. Continue Reading
The producer responsibility organization in British Columbia reported a 45% plastic recovery rate in 2024. | Photo courtesy Recycle BC
Producer responsibility organization Recycle BC upped its plastic recovery rate in Canada’s southwestern province last year, and it managed nearly all of the collected plastic domestically. Continue Reading
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Editor’s Note: This is the first in a monthly PCR resin pricing analysis contributed by commodity intelligence firm ICIS. Continue Reading
PET container prices fell 30% from June to July, part of an across-the-board price decline for curbside plastics bales. Continue Reading
Natural HDPE prices have fallen 32% over the past two months, while PP has declined 56% over the same period, according to the latest monthly national average pricing report. Continue Reading
A California initiative and a nationwide study examine the accessibility of film recycling programs, and a Canadian city begins collection. | Dmitry Markov152/Shutterstock
Most Americans have access to a store drop-off site for film plastics, according to a new study by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Continue Reading