Recyclables prices in the Northeast slipped slightly during the first quarter, according to a MRF survey.
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) published its latest quarterly study on the blended average value of a ton of recyclables. Based on a survey of 13 MRFs in 10 states, the research found the average price was $68.12 when including residuals disposal costs, and the average was $77.90 when excluding the pricing impacts of residuals.
In both cases, that was down 2% from the prior quarter.
On a year-over-year basis, however, the price with residuals was down 51% and the price ignoring residuals was down 47%.
NERC also found that the MRFs’ sorting and material marketing costs went up during the first quarter. Their average was $93 per ton, a 7% increase from the fourth quarter of 2022 and a 2% increase from the first quarter of 2022.
