With fewer available drivers comes less available trucking supply, leading to higher prices and potential disruptions in trucking availability for those in the recycling industry. | Vitpho/Shutterstock
A driver shortage that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to create challenges for moving recyclables this year, analysts say.
COVID-19 and pricing pressure led companies to seek other supply lines for PET feedstock. | Pixel B/Shutterstock
A confluence of recycled PET market disruptions in 2020 included low prime plastic pricing and supply challenges that led end users to seek feedstock from other sources. Still, experts maintain a surge of RPET demand is fast approaching.
As the year comes to a close, MRFs are largely seeing good news across the board, fetching higher prices for OCC, mixed paper, aluminum, natural HDPE and other materials.
Recycling stakeholders recently gathered virtually for the 2020 MRF Summit.| 9dream studio/Shutterstock
At the recent MRF Summit, held online, recycling leaders tackled a number of trends that are shaping the fortunes of material processors.
The average value of a ton of recyclables dropped in the U.S. Northeast and Ontario in the third quarter. | Camillo Clauser/Shutterstock
Average commodity values tumbled by about one-fifth during the third quarter, according to a survey of northeastern U.S. MRFs. A price sheet for Ontario showed the same downward trend.
The average price of mixed-paper bales jumped up by 21% this month, and natural HDPE has notched another record value.
The price of natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bales surpassed 61 cents per pound for the first time. Meanwhile, the average mixed-paper price notched upward by several dollars.
