Prices for curbside recyclables have surged across the board, with OCC and mixed paper values increasing sharply and natural HDPE crossing the $1 threshold for the first time.
Recovered fiber end users detailed the impacts of rising OCC prices in their quarterly reports. | BAO Images Bildaentur / Shutterstock
Major recovered paper end users anticipate paying more for feedstock as 2021 progresses, according to recent statements from company executives. Mill operators also shared updates on their recycled fiber capacity expansions.
EFS-plastics described how virgin resin pricing and other factors are impacting the recycling sector. | Ann Moore / Shutterstock
The mixed-plastics processing sector is seeing supply challenges from product labeling changes and could be significantly disrupted by chemical recycling initiatives, according to one plastics processor.
Waste Management’s recycling business revenues came in at $342 million during the first quarter, up 35% year over year. | 2p2play / Shutterstock
Higher commodity prices drove year-over-year recycling revenue increases for North America’s largest garbage and recycling companies.
Prices for curbside plastic bales shot up over the past month, with PET bottles jumping by nearly one-third and natural HDPE notching another record.
Grants will help fund glass recycling and many other materials recovery efforts in California. | safakcakir / Shutterstock
Over $10 million in cap-and-trade program dollars have been awarded to California companies that recover PET, glass and textiles.
MRFs are enjoying higher prices for scrap paper, plastic and metal bales this month, with notable increases for OCC, PET and HDPE.
Craig Cookson of the American Chemistry Council and Kate Bailey of Eco-Cycle spoke during a session moderated by Dan Leif of Plastics Recycling Update at the 2021 Plastics Recycling Conference. | Screenshot from the 2021 Plastics Recycling Conference.
The recent Plastics Recycling Conference, held online, featured eight sessions over two days. Here are some of the talking points that caught our team’s attention.
The U.S. exported 1.32 million short tons of recovered fiber in February, with India as the top destination. | MAGNIFIER/Shutterstock
U.S. exports of recovered plastic and paper remained consistent in February, despite global trade policy changes for both materials that went into effect at the beginning of the year.
