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 ($/ton)
Chart
Table
Recyclable Material Pricing ($/ton)
As you can see prices vary widely and are constantly changing.
Recyclable Material Pricing |
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|
Aluminum & Foil | $1,300.00 |
|
HDPE (#2) Natural | $1,160.60 |
|
Metal | $177.50 |
|
PETE (#1) | $185.60 |
|
HDPE (#2) Colored | $179.40 |
|
Rigid Plastics | $70.00 |
|
OCC (Cardboard) | $30.00 |
|
Plastics #3 thru #7 | $6.80 |
|
Aseptics & Cartons | $2.50 |
|
Mixed Paper | $-1.50 |
|
Glass | $-25.31 |
Source: Recycling Markets.net
So here's the value ($)
Chart
Table
Blended Value of the Recyclable Material
= percentage (chart 1) x pricing (chart 2)
Blended Value of Recyclable Material |
|||||
|
3.4% | x | $1,300.00 |
= | $44.20 |
|
8.0% | x | $185.60 |
= | $14.85 |
|
1.4% | x | $1,160.60 |
= | $16.25 |
|
3.0% | x | $177.50 |
= | $5.33 |
|
13.9% | x | $30.00 |
= | $4.17 |
|
2.1% | x | $179.40 |
= | $3.77 |
|
3.1% | x | $70.00 |
= | $2.17 |
|
4.5% | x | $6.80 |
= | $0.31 |
|
0.8% | x | $2.50 |
= | $0.02 |
|
39.4% | x | $-1.50 |
= | $-0.59 |
|
20.4% | x | $-25.31 |
= | $-5.16 |
100% |
$85.30 |
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