The value of curbside-collected paper and steel is down slightly at the start of April, though some plastics have experienced boosts.
A pair of bills in Massachusetts could have some impact on recovery. One mandates reductions in statewide per-capita waste generation and another requires state government offices to divert a host of materials.
In recent years, DS Smith has moved into the U.S. market, including acquisition of two paper mills. | Olexandr Panchenko/Shutterstock
A major British paper manufacturer is growing its presence in the U.S., increasing domestic demand for recovered fiber. The company’s leader forecasts a great future for recycled fiber use in paper packaging.
OCC and other recovered fiber grades are allowed in to China but with strict contamination thresholds. | noomcpk/Shutterstock
China bought less of the world’s recycled fiber in 2019, the second year in a row of major decreases in recycled material imports. And the country’s environmental ministry has reiterated plans for an all-out import ban next year.
A months-long string of rising prices for recovered materials has continued into February.
A rebound in commodity values meant substantial recycling-related revenue boosts for North America’s two largest residential haulers.
This story originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Resource Recycling.
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A variety of businesses in Oregon were recently awarded grants to boost materials recovery. | bleakstar/Shutterstock
An Oregon agency has awarded $5.6 million in grants to bolster recycling and composting infrastructure serving the Portland area.
OCC and other recovered fiber shipments to China will continue to face a 25% duty. | cybrain/Shutterstock
The U.S. and China signed a deal last week seemingly calming their trade war. But Chinese tariffs on OCC, recycled pulp and other materials will remain for the time being.
The past few months have seen significant upticks in the value of recovered materials.