California's Recycled Plastic: What's The Price Tag?

Plastic recycling is a hot topic in California, with billions of containers being recycled each year. In 2017, PET (or polyethylene terephthalate) made up around half of the recyclable beverage containers sold in the state. So, how much is recycled plastic worth per pound in California?

Plastic bottles are worth around $1.20 per pound

In California, there are many people who make a living from recycling plastic bottles. In 2017, more than 18 billion aluminium, glass, PET and HDPE containers were recycled in the state. Every day, people line up at recycling centres with their bins brimming with plastic bottles.

Recycling plastic bottles can be a lucrative business. Aluminium cans are far more valuable than glass or plastic, but plastic bottles still have a decent scrap value. In 2017, the scrap value for PET plastic was about $190 per ton, which works out to around $0.10 per pound.

The recycling of plastic is also subsidised by the state of California. This helps to make municipal recycling programs financially viable and effectively subsidises the recycling of less valuable materials, such as plastic bottles.

Aluminium cans are more valuable than plastic

Aluminium cans are far more valuable than glass or plastic, helping to make municipal recycling programmes financially viable and effectively subsidising the recycling of less valuable materials in the bin. In 2017, more than 18 billion aluminium, glass, PET and HDPE containers were recycled in California. Every day, people line up at Our Planet Recycling on the edge of the Bayview district in San Francisco, pushing bins brimming with plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

The recycling of plastic is subsidised by the state. Buyers will bring it to a factory where it’s cleaned, chopped, melted, turned into pellets and then made into something new.

California subsidises plastic recycling

In 2017, more than 18 billion aluminium, glass, PET and HDPE containers were recycled in California. People line up at Our Planet Recycling in San Francisco with their bins of recyclables, which are then weighed.

A pound of plastic bottles is worth around $1.20, while aluminium is worth as much as $2 a pound. In California, about 21 billion California Refund Value (CRV) eligible containers were sold in 2013, of which more than 18 billion were recycled.

Plastic scrap prices vary across the state

The price of plastic scrap is dependent on the type of plastic, with some types being more valuable than others. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is often marked with a recycle symbol surrounding the number 1, is worth less than aluminium or glass.

In California, the price of plastic scrap can also vary depending on the location of the scrap yard. The state has a large number of scrap yards, with prices varying across these yards.

Additionally, the price of plastic scrap can be influenced by the demand for recycled plastic. In 2013, about 21 billion California Refund Value (CRV) eligible containers were sold in the state, with more than 18 billion of these being recycled. This high rate of recycling may have an impact on the price of plastic scrap, as it increases the supply of recycled plastic.

PET plastic scrap value covers less than half of the cost of recycling

In California, a pound of plastic bottles is worth around $1.20. However, the scrap value of PET plastic covers less than half of the cost of recycling. In 2017, the cost of recycling PET was around $485 a ton, while the scrap value was about $190 per ton. This means that the recycling of plastic is often subsidised by the state.

California has a strong record of recycling plastic. In 2017, more than 18 billion aluminium, glass, PET and HDPE containers were recycled in the state. In 2013, about 21 billion California Refund Value (CRV) eligible containers were sold, of which more than 18 billion were recycled.

Despite this, the scrap value of PET plastic is relatively low compared to the cost of recycling. This is due to the process of recycling PET plastic, which involves cleaning, chopping, melting, and turning the plastic into pellets before it can be made into something new. This process is costly and labour-intensive, driving up the cost of recycling.

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