The Value Of Recycled Plastic: What Companies Will Pay

The recycling of plastic is a pressing issue, with the United States, the world's largest plastic polluter, recycling only 5% of its household plastic waste. The global situation is slightly better, but 91% of plastic waste is still incinerated, landfilled or mismanaged. While there is a growing market for products made from recycled plastic, such as bottles, clothing, packaging and bags, it is difficult for recycling companies to compete with cheap virgin plastic. To get the huge investments they need, they must show they have a market for their products.

The price of recycled plastic depends on the grade, amount and location of the material

The US is the world's largest plastic polluter, recycling only 5% of its household plastic waste. In 2018, the US recycled three million tons of plastic for an 8.7% recycling rate. In contrast, European countries recycle 35% to 40% of their plastic waste.

Recycling companies need huge investments, and to get that, they have to show they have a market for their products. For that, they need commitments – voluntary or mandated by law – by consumer goods companies to buy recycled plastic.

The US recycles a small amount of plastic, with only 5% of household plastic waste being recycled

The price that companies will pay for recycled plastic depends on the grade, amount and location of the material. In general, it is difficult for recycling companies to compete with cheap virgin plastic. They need huge investments, and to get that, they have to show they have a market for their products.

In 2018, the US recycled three million tons of plastic for an 8.7% recycling rate. However, this number has been steadily declining in the last few years. In 2014, the recycling rate was 9.5%. European countries recycle more plastic waste than the US, with rates of 35% to 40%.

The US is the world's largest plastic polluter

The price companies pay for recycled plastic depends on the grade, amount and location of the material. However, it is difficult for recycling companies to compete with cheap virgin plastic. Recycling companies need huge investments, and to get that, they have to show they have a market for their products.

European countries recycle more plastic than the US

The EU is taking the creation of a circular economy very seriously, with plastics at the centre. The recycling of plastic waste in the EU is the second most used way of treating plastic waste, after energy recovery, which involves turning plastic waste into usable heat, electricity or fuel through incineration or other processes. In 2021, 6.56 million tonnes of plastic waste were recycled in the EU.

Recycling companies need huge investments, and to get that, they have to show they have a market for their products. This means that they need commitments from consumer goods companies to buy recycled plastic. The price that companies will pay for recycled plastic depends on the grade, amount and location of the material.

Consumers can help the recycling industry by buying products that contain recycled plastic

Recycling rates are relatively low, with the US recycling only 5% of its household plastic waste, and 8.7% of plastic containers in 2018. In Europe, the rates are higher, with 35% to 40% of plastic waste being recycled.

Consumers can also help by selling their plastic scrap to recycling companies. Some companies will buy all grades of plastic in bulk, and the price depends on the grade, amount and location of the material.

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