Jerry Powell is the founder and editorial advisor of Resource Recycling, Inc., which publishes Resource Recycling, Plastics Recycling Update and E-Scrap News. He previously owned and managed a recycling consulting company and managed a recycling business in Portland, Ore. He can be contacted at [email protected].
A longtime recycling expert analyzes census data to help predict future recycling industry trends. | Grzejnik / Shutterstock
The release of the U.S. census for the decade of 2010 to 2020 points to important ways municipal recycling initiatives will change in the coming years. An assessment points to five key trends that will affect materials recovery efforts.
Recovered materials processors have received a little holiday cheer. The value of most recyclables moved higher at the start of this month.
The growing smiles you see among recycling collectors and processors are because of continuing market improvement.
The value of curbside-collected paper and steel is down slightly at the start of April, though some plastics have experienced boosts.
As May begins, recovered HDPE bale prices have slid, making operators of packaging sorting plants a bit glum.
China no longer wants to receive garbage from other countries. As a result, enhanced import inspections by Chinese customs officials have led to severe recycling market confusion worldwide, especially for shippers of recovered paper and plastics.
A months-long string of rising prices for recovered materials has continued into February.
Jerry Powell moderating a session at the 2019 Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show
As part of the Trump administration’s trade war with China, a number of tariffs have been levied on the import of Chinese goods. A handful of recycling companies and one trade group have sought exemptions.
The past few months have seen significant upticks in the value of recovered materials.