Recycling Economics

Understanding the economics behind recycling can help us all make
better decisions on which products and packaging we choose to buy.

Here's what we recycle (%)

Chart
Table

Estimate of Single-Family Household Recyclable Material Generation

Mixed Paper 39.4%
Glass 20.4%
OCC (Cardboard) 13.9%
PETE (#1) 8.0%
Plastics #3 thru #7 4.5%
Aluminum & Foil 3.4%
Rigid Plastics 3.1%
Metal 3.0%
HDPE (#2) Colored 2.1%
HDPE (#2) Natural 1.4%
Aseptics & Cartons 0.8%

% by weight

100%

Source: The Recycling Partnerhip's State of Curbside Report 2020

And here's the pricing ($/ton)

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Table

Recyclable Material Pricing ($/ton)
As you can see prices vary widely and are constantly changing.

Recyclable Material Pricing
March 2023

Aluminum & Foil $1,500.00
HDPE (#2) Natural $1,356.80
PETE (#1) $276.80
HDPE (#2) Colored $264.40
Metal $191.56
Rigid Plastics $72.60
OCC (Cardboard) $32.50
Plastics #3 thru #7 $10.00
Mixed Paper $4.75
Aseptics & Cartons $2.50
Glass $-19.06

Source: Recycling Markets.net

So here's the value ($)

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Table

Blended Value of the Recyclable Material
= percentage (chart 1) x pricing (chart 2)

Blended Value of Recyclable Material
March 2023

3.4% x $1,500.00
= $51.00
8.0% x $276.80
= $22.14
1.4% x $1,356.80
= $19.00
3.0% x $191.56
= $5.75
13.9% x $32.50
= $4.52
2.1% x $264.40
= $5.55
3.1% x $72.60
= $2.25
4.5% x $10.00
= $0.45
39.4% x $4.75
= $1.87
0.8% x $2.50
= $0.02
20.4% x $-19.06
= $-3.89

100%

$108.66