
The price of recycled plastic varies according to market demand, material purity, and new recycling technologies. For example, post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars cost 8.63 cents per pound, while natural HDPE from curbside programs can cost 70.25 cents per pound. The price of recycled plastic is also cheaper than making new plastic, with recycled PET plastic pellets costing 58 to 66 cents per pound, compared to 83 to 85 cents per pound for new PET pellets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars | 8.63 cents per pound |
| Natural HDPE from curbside programs | 70.25 cents per pound |
| Polypropylene | 18.44 cents per pound |
| Recycled PET plastic pellets | 58 to 66 cents per pound |
| New PET pellets | 83 to 85 cents per pound |
| Recycled PP | 3.69 cents per pound |
| Grade A film | 11.13 cents per pound |
| Grade B film | 4.38 cents per pound |
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What You'll Learn
- The price of recycled plastic changes due to market demand, material purity, and new recycling technologies
- The price of recycled PET bottles and jars is about 8.63 cents per pound
- The price of natural HDPE is 70.25 cents per pound
- The price of recycled PP was at a low of 3.69 cents per pound last July
- It costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound to make recycled PET plastic pellets

The price of recycled plastic changes due to market demand, material purity, and new recycling technologies
The price of recycled plastic varies depending on the type of plastic and the market demand for it. For instance, PET plastic, which is commonly used for beverage bottles and jars, is cheaper than HDPE plastic, which is often used for natural products. The price of recycled PET plastic pellets costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound, while the price of new PET pellets is 83 to 85 cents per pound. This makes recycled plastic a more economical choice.
The recycling process itself also affects the price of recycled plastic. The costs of collection and sorting must be considered when comparing recycled to new plastics. A study from the University of California, Berkeley found that recycling could save $200 per ton compared to dumping. Additionally, recycled plastic creates significantly more jobs compared to landfill and incineration.
Market prices for recycled plastic can fluctuate over time. For example, recycled PP was at a low of 3.69 cents per pound last July, but the national average price of Grade A film has now increased to 11.13 cents, while Grade B film is at 4.38 cents, up from 3.63 cents per pound last month. These changes in price are influenced by the interplay of supply and demand in the market, with higher-quality recycled plastic often commanding a higher price.
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$14.36 $15.95

The price of recycled PET bottles and jars is about 8.63 cents per pound
It is important to look at the bigger picture when comparing recycled to new plastics. The recycling process has costs like collection and sorting. A study from the University of California, Berkeley found that recycling could save $200 per ton compared to dumping. The price of recycled plastics proves they are a good economic choice against new plastics. Making recycled PET plastic pellets costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound. This is cheaper than making new PET pellets, which cost 83 to 85 cents per pound.
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The price of natural HDPE is 70.25 cents per pound
The price of recycled plastic is also affected by the costs of the recycling process, such as collection and sorting. Despite this, it is still cheaper to use recycled plastic than new plastic. For example, making recycled PET plastic pellets costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound, while making new PET pellets costs 83 to 85 cents per pound. This price gap sparks questions about how we value recycled plastics.
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The price of recycled PP was at a low of 3.69 cents per pound last July
The price of recycled plastic varies depending on market demand, material purity, and new recycling technologies. For example, the price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is 8.63 cents per pound, while natural HDPE from curbside programs can be as high as 70.25 cents per pound. The price of recycled PP, specifically, was at a low of 3.69 cents per pound last July. This is significantly lower than the price of other types of recycled plastic, such as PET and HDPE.
The cost of recycling plastic includes expenses like collection and sorting. Despite these costs, recycling plastic is generally cheaper than using new plastic. For example, making recycled PET plastic pellets costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound, while making new PET pellets costs 83 to 85 cents per pound. This price difference highlights the economic benefits of using recycled plastic.
The price of recycled PP at 3.69 cents per pound last July was likely influenced by similar factors affecting the price of recycled plastic in general. Market demand, material purity, and recycling technologies all play a role in determining the price. Additionally, the specific characteristics of PP, such as its supply and demand dynamics and the availability of recycling processes for this material, may have contributed to the lower price compared to other types of recycled plastic.
The low price of recycled PP last July could have implications for the recycling industry and the environment. A lower price may discourage recycling efforts and favour the use of new plastic or other materials. However, it is important to consider the bigger picture, as recycling creates significantly more jobs compared to landfill and incineration. Additionally, the price of recycled PP may fluctuate over time, and a low price at one point in time does not necessarily reflect its long-term value.
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It costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound to make recycled PET plastic pellets
The price of recycled materials shows big differences. For example, PET is 8.63 cents per pound, while natural HDPE is 70.25 cents per pound. This price gap sparks questions about how we value recycled plastics. It’s also interesting that plastic recycling could offer 70 times more jobs than dumping or burning our waste. Despite these benefits, we only recycle 9% of our plastic.
Recycling plastic vs. using new plastic affects how feasible big recycling plans are. It’s important to look at the big picture when comparing recycled to new plastics. The recycling process has costs like collection and sorting. A study from the University of California, Berkeley found recycling could save $200 per ton compared to dumping. The price of recycled plastics proves they are a good economic choice against new plastics.
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Frequently asked questions
The price of recycled plastic changes due to market demand, material purity, and new recycling technologies. For example, post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars cost 8.63 cents per pound.
Making recycled PET plastic pellets costs about 58 to 66 cents per pound. This is cheaper than making new PET pellets, which cost 83 to 85 cents per pound.
Natural HDPE costs 70.25 cents per pound.
Recycled PP was at a low of 3.69 cents per pound last July.
Grade A film costs 11.13 cents per pound.





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