Recovered fiber users recently reported on the financial impact of material prices over the past quarter. | Siwakorn1933/Shutterstock
One major paper company reported a 179% increase in OCC prices year over year during the third quarter. Although the OCC market has cooled slightly since then, paper companies are projecting similarly elevated prices for the year to come.
Recovered material prices are down nearly across-the-board this month, with MRFs reporting a particularly steep drop in HDPE values.
Igneo plans to use a pyrolysis system to process plastics in the electronics stream. | gabriel12/Shutterstock
A large electronics recycling operation is launching in Georgia, and its focus will be lower-value, plastics-heavy devices in the waste stream.
A new report shows the bulk of recyclables collected in Texas are processed at 31 MRFs. | RYosha / Shutterstock
A comprehensive look at the Lone Star State’s recycling system identified several strategies governments can use to bolster recycling market development in their jurisdictions, including recycled-content mandates and public procurement policies.
The national average price of UBCs increased by 5% over the past month, but prices for PET and natural HDPE bales dropped 11% and 4%, respectively.
Continue Reading
Over the last month, all common grades of curbside fiber saw modest pricing gains. But plastic values were mostly flat, and PP dropped over 10%.
Several factors are contributing to price increases within the wider aluminum market. | Darrenp / Shutterstock
A year ago, some aluminum end markets were slowing purchases of the material. But demand has steadily increased throughout 2021, bringing welcome pricing for the municipal recycling sector.
Continue Reading
As of August, OCC averaged $161 across the U.S., up from $57 a year earlier. | sxc839897 / Shutterstock
The value of a blended ton recyclables in the Northeast surged during the second quarter of this year, driven by price increases for many different materials.
The strong global containerboard demand suggests the U.S. recovered fiber market will continue to export OCC. | ja images / Shutterstock
Paper mills that use a lot of recovered fiber were forced to pay substantially more for OCC over the past few months, reflecting the global strength in corrugated packaging demand.