North America’s five largest hauling companies all reported year-over-year drops in recycling revenues for the second quarter of 2023. | 2p2play/Shutterstock
Fiber prices are slowly recovering from the rock-bottom values of late last year and early this year, but scrap plastic prices have fallen dramatically in recent months, taking a toll on the largest haulers’ recycling businesses. Continue Reading
The price of OCC has a major impact on Greif’s Paper Packaging & Services segment, which manufactures several corrugated fiber products. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Projecting an average OCC price of $48 per ton for this fiscal year, industrial packaging producer Greif Inc. continues to enjoy lower recycled fiber costs even as it experiences lower demand for many of its products. Continue Reading
September is bringing some overall positive news for MRFs, with prices for recovered fiber and plastics continuing to climb higher.
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Although depressed plastics prices have caused some companies to revise their earnings projections, many in the sector are optimistic about an upcoming rebound. | Golden Dayz/Shutterstock
This story has been updated.
Recycled plastics prices are at their lowest levels in some time, putting significant strain on material processors. Meanwhile, some resin buyers are abandoning post-consumer resin to purchase virgin plastic instead. Continue Reading
OCC heading into a pulping machine at a Pacific Northwest paper mill. Four major recovered fiber companies recently detailed their outlooks for the future of OCC markets. | Jared Paben/Resource Recycling
Some of the largest consumers of fiber bales enjoyed low OCC prices during the second quarter, giving them a little margin relief amid an otherwise tough business environment. As the year progresses, they’re expecting to pay more for recovered fiber, however. Continue Reading
WestRock announced it is shuttering its Tacoma, Wash. facility due to the mill’s high need for capital investment and to consolidate the company’s footprint. | Google
Paper giant WestRock is shutting down a nearly 100-year-old mill in Tacoma, Wash. that consumes OCC from recycling programs. The company says its decision is driven by high operating costs. Continue Reading
PET and HDPE prices have taken a sudden crash this month, dropping by double-digit percentages. Luckily for MRFs, most everything else in the curbside mix is holding steady. Continue Reading
From left: Keefe Harrison, Jennifer Russell and Matt Seaholm. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling
A range of industry experts recently discussed steps to move forward on plastics sustainability, with transparency, public trust and standardization emerging as key themes. Continue Reading
Producers of recycled paper products continue to wrestle with labor costs, energy costs and an uncertain economy. | Sittipong Phokawattana/Shutterstock
Some of the biggest U.S. consumers of OCC enjoyed the benefits of low bale prices late last year, but they generally expect prices to rise modestly over the course of 2023.
Workers at Cascades’ recently converted Bear Island Mill in Ashland, Va. celebrate the first paper roll produced at the site. | Courtesy of Cascades
Early 2023 presented a challenging business environment for big buyers of OCC and recovered paper, with some mills taking downtime on lackluster paper product demand. Continue Reading