The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars dropped again in September, now averaging 4.66 cents per pound, compared to 5.75 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are yielding in the 3-7 cent range. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 18.34 cents per pound. Continue Reading
Recycled plastic prices dropped in August, with RPET flake and pellet down 5% month-over-month and natural HDPE pellet falling 12% | Meaw_stocker / Shutterstock
Almost all US recycled plastic scrap markets continue to experience severe downward pressure, on softening demand as buyers assess their needs through the end of the year. In some markets, high-quality post-consumer colorless recycled resin now is at parity with virgin resin pricing, a reversal of the prior trend.
Continue Reading
The market for recycled carpet in California continues to scale, boosted by supplemental subsidies and infrastructure improvements. | FrankHH/Shutterstock
California’s carpet recycling rate has improved for the fifth consecutive year, with Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) citing financial incentives, including grants, as a key driver of the continued growth. Continue Reading
The closure of California reclaimer rPlanet Earth has set alarm bells ringing for the North American plastics recycling industry, as sustainability legislation fails to sufficiently support Europe’s recyclers. | Christophe Licoppe / Shutterstock
In recent weeks, industry calls to action have grown louder about addressing the existential crisis in Europe’s plastics recycling sector, despite the region’s rapidly advancing sustainability mandates. Continue Reading
The sudden inclusion of both virgin and recycled PET in US tariff lists is good news for domestic recyclers, but frustrating for importers. | Tezzstock/Shutterstock
Editor’s Note: Resin markets will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California. Register now for the best rates.
The sudden inclusion of PET resin in the list of imports subject to hefty tariffs is causing concern for some stakeholders and relief for others, even as a disappointing peak summer season draws to a close. Continue Reading
MRFs in the Northeast saw recycled commodity prices dip in Q2 2025, with haulers reflecting a continuing decrease in their quarterly earnings results. | Rozenskip/Shutterstock
In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report. Continue Reading
Charter Next Generation will use chemically recycled polyethylene produced at Shell’s plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania, in its flexible packaging.| Photo courtesy Shell Polymers
Editor’s Note: Chemical recycling will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California. Register now for the best rates.
Specialty film producer Charter Next Generation has agreed to buy polyethylene (PE) produced by Shell Polymers using chemically recycled feedstock, for use in high-performance flexible packaging. Continue Reading
PET resin previously was not subject to the 2025 tariffs, and the move drew comment from APR but added to market confusion. | BigPixel/Shutterstock
Editor’s note: This is a developing story.
US President Donald Trump has expanded tariffs to include PET resin as of Sept. 8, according to a new executive order. The move drew comment from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) because of its expected impact on imported resin, but added uncertainty to the market.