Chloe Zhang
The cost of recycling plastic in the UK has been a hot topic in recent years. In 2017, the average price of a tonne of recycled plastic was up to £250, with clear recycled PET costing just £158 per tonne. However, according to a report from S&P Global Platts, recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared to newly made plastic. This has led to concerns that smaller manufacturers may be forced to turn their backs on recycled plastic to keep costs down. Despite this, the demand for recycled plastics is thriving, with 74% of PET and HDPE plastic bottles being recycled by 2016 and 45% of the UK's plastic packaging being recycled in 2017.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of recycled plastic compared to new plastic | Recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared to new plastic |
| Cost of virgin PET compared to recycled PET | Virgin PET costs around £1,000 a tonne, while recycled PET costs £158 a tonne |
| Rebate prices for specialist plastics | PVC guttering, mouldings and fixings: up to £250 per tonne |
| Rebate prices for specialist plastics | Acrylic PMMA scrap: £200-£250 per tonne |
| Percentage of plastic packaging recycled in the UK | 45% in 2017 |
What You'll Learn
The cost of recycled plastic vs. virgin plastic
For years, the cost of making plastic products from recycled flakes was cheaper than relying on virgin plastics made using fossil fuels, meaning the sustainable option was also an economic one. However, according to a report from S&P Global Platts, a commodity market specialist, recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared with newly made plastic. This is due in part to the growing demand to include recycled plastics in new products.
Despite this, demand for recycled plastics is thriving. In 2017, 45% of the UK's plastic packaging was recycled, higher than the EU average of 40.8%. And according to the British Plastics Federation, 74% of PET and HDPE plastic bottles were being recycled by 2016, while the percentage of plastic containers and tubs being recycled rose from 30% in 2010 to 75% in 2015.
The price of recycled plastic can vary depending on the type of plastic. For example, a tonne of virgin PET costs around £1,000, while clear recycled PET costs just £158 per tonne. Rebate prices for 'specialist' plastics are even higher. In 2017, the average price for PVC guttering, mouldings and fixings was up to £250 per tonne, while acrylic PMMA scrap from old shop display stands and office desk covers bought £200-£250 per tonne.
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Rebate prices for specialist plastics
The cost of recycling plastic in the UK varies depending on the type of plastic and the method of recycling. For example, the average rebate price for PVC guttering, mouldings and fixings was up to £250 per tonne in 2017, while acrylic PMMA scrap from old shop display stands and office desk covers bought £200-£250 per tonne.
The cost of recycled plastic compared to virgin plastic (made from oil or fossil fuels) has fluctuated in recent years. In 2018, recycled plastic was cheaper than virgin plastic due to rising oil prices. However, by 2020, recycled plastic was more expensive, costing an extra $72 (£57) per tonne compared to new plastic. This was due to a flood of new plastic production from the US, driven by the shale gas boom, as well as increasing demand for recycled plastic in new products.
Despite the recent increase in the cost of recycled plastic, the demand for it is still thriving. In 2016, 74% of PET and HDPE plastic bottles were being recycled in the UK, and the percentage of plastic containers and tubs being recycled rose from 30% in 2010 to 75% in 2015. By 2017, 45% of the UK's plastic packaging was recycled, higher than the EU average of 40.8%.
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The cost of recycled plastic in the UK compared to other countries
In the UK, the cost of recycled plastic is cheaper than virgin plastic made from oil. A tonne of virgin PET costs around £1,000, while clear recycled PET costs just £158 per tonne. In 2017, the average price for a tonne of PVC guttering, mouldings and fixings was up to £250. Acrylic PMMA scrap from old shop display stands and office desk covers bought £200-£250 per tonne.
However, according to a report from S&P Global Platts, recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared with newly made plastic. This is due to the growing demand to include recycled plastics in new products, and the fact that new plastic is becoming cheaper to make due to a flood of petrochemicals production from the US driven by the shale gas boom.
The UK's plastic recycling rate is higher than the EU average, with 45% of the UK's plastic packaging being recycled in 2017, compared to the EU average of 40.8%.
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The demand for recycled plastic
The cost of making plastic products from recycled flakes was cheaper than relying on virgin plastics made using fossil fuels, meaning the sustainable option was also an economic one. However, according to experts, it is now cheaper for major manufacturers to use new plastic. A report from S&P Global Platts, a commodity market specialist, revealed that recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared with newly made plastic. This is due in part to the growing demand to include recycled plastics in new products.
Despite this, recycled plastic is still cheaper than virgin plastic made from oil. A tonne of virgin PET costs around £1,000, while clear recycled PET costs just £158 per tonne. Rebate prices for 'specialist' plastics are even higher. In 2017, the average price for a tonne of PVC guttering, mouldings and fixings was up to £250 per tonne, while acrylic PMMA scrap from old shop display stands and office desk covers bought £200-£250 per tonne.
Although many larger manufacturers would struggle to switch their machinery back to virgin plastics, smaller manufacturers may be forced to turn their backs on recycled plastic to keep costs down.
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The cost of recycling plastic bottles
According to the British Plastics Federation, 74% of PET and HDPE plastic bottles were being recycled by 2016, and the percentage of plastic containers and tubs being recycled rose from 30% in 2010 to 75% in 2015. In 2017, 45% of the UK’s plastic packaging was recycled, higher than the EU average of 40.8%.
The cost of recycled plastic has been increasing in recent years, with recycled plastic now costing an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared to newly made plastic. This is due in part to the growing demand to include recycled plastics in new products, as well as the increasing availability of cheap new plastic due to a flood of petrochemicals production from the US driven by the shale gas boom. This has made it more difficult for sustainable manufacturers to compete with major manufacturers who use new plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the type of plastic. Clear recycled PET costs £158 per tonne, while a tonne of virgin PET costs around £1,000.
According to a report from S&P Global Platts, recycled plastic now costs an extra $72 (£57) a tonne compared with newly made plastic. This is due to the growing demand to include recycled plastics in new products, and the fact that new plastic is becoming cheaper to make due to a flood of petrochemicals production from the US driven by the shale gas boom.
Recycling plastic helps to reduce waste and conserve resources. It also helps to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and the ocean, which can have a negative impact on the environment. In addition, recycling plastic can create jobs and support the development of new technologies.
