Understanding the Volatile Market for Recycled Materials and the Landfill Challenge The market for recycled commodities in the United States is dynamic and subject to frequent change. Prices for materials like cardboard, aluminum, and plastic are influenced by a complex web of factors, including global market demand, regional supply, processing costs, and the quality of the recycled product. As such, providing a single "average" price is difficult, but at Genesis Dome, we can offer a snapshot of typical price ranges. For the most accurate and up-to-date figures, it is always best to consult with local recycling centers, and your market indexes, but we wanted to highlight the potential value of recapture for a company. Beyond market prices, a critical aspect of understanding the recycling landscape is recognizing the vast amount of valuable materials that do not make it into the recycling stream and instead end up in landfills, representing a significant lost economic and environmental opportunity. Recycled Cardboard (Old Corrugated Cardboard or OCC) and the Landfill Dilemma Cardboard is one of the most widely recycled materials, and its price is a key indicator of the health of the recycling industry. The value of cardboard is heavily dependent on whether it is loose or has been baled (compressed into dense blocks).

• Baled Cardboard: Baled cardboard is more valuable because it is easier to transport and handle. Prices for baled OCC typically range from $80 to $150 per ton. Some states may see higher or lower prices depending on local demand and processing capacity.


• Loose Cardboard: Loose cardboard commands a lower price, with a typical range of $15 to $105 per ton. The wide range reflects the higher costs associated with its transportation and the need for additional processing before it can be recycled.

The Landfill Challenge: Despite its high recyclability, a significant amount of cardboard still ends up in landfills. Annually, the United States disposes of an estimated 13.5 million tons of corrugated containers (cardboard) in landfills. At an average price of $100 per ton for baled cardboard, this amounts to a lost value of approximately $1.35 billion per year. Recycled Aluminum and the High Cost of Waste Aluminum is a high-value commodity due to its infinite recyclability and the significant energy savings achieved by recycling it compared to producing new aluminum from ore. The price of recycled aluminum varies greatly by form and purity.

• Aluminum Cans (UBC - Used Beverage Cans): This is the most common form of recycled aluminum and generally has a strong market. Current prices typically fall between $0.40 and $0.70 per pound.


• Other Aluminum Scrap: Other forms of aluminum, such as from machinery, siding, or window frames, are valued based on their grade and cleanliness.
  
  
  
  • Clean Aluminum: Scrap aluminum free of other materials typically sells for $0.52 to $0.60 per pound.
  
  
  • Cast Aluminum: Often found in car parts and other molded items, cast aluminum prices are generally lower, ranging from $0.28 to $0.52 per pound.
  
  
  • Aluminum Rims: Prices for aluminum wheels can vary, but a common range is $0.40 to $0.77 per pound, depending on cleanliness.
  
  
  
  

The Landfill Challenge: The energy savings from recycling aluminum are immense, yet a considerable amount is still wasted. It's estimated that the U.S. landfills hundreds of thousands of tons of aluminum annually, primarily in the form of used beverage cans and other aluminum packaging. With an average price of $0.55 per pound, even a conservative estimate of 200,000 tons landfilled equates to a lost value of over $220 million per year. Recycled Plastic and the Complexities of Diversion The market for recycled plastic is highly segmented, with different types of plastic resin having vastly different values. The two most common types in the recycling stream are PET and HDPE.

• PET (#1) Plastic: This resin is commonly used for beverage bottles and food containers. The national average price for baled PET has been reported at around $307 to $479 per metric ton (which is roughly $0.14 to $0.22 per pound).


• HDPE (#2) Plastic: Used for milk jugs and detergent bottles, HDPE is a valuable plastic, particularly the natural, uncolored version.
  
  
  
  • Natural HDPE: Prices for natural HDPE can be around $0.32 to $0.70 per pound.
  
  
  • Colored HDPE: The price for colored HDPE is typically lower, with some reports around $0.24 per pound.
  
  
  
  


• PP (#5) Plastic: Polypropylene, used in items like yogurt containers and bottle caps, is generally less valuable than PET and HDPE, with prices ranging from $179 to $250 per metric ton (approximately $0.08 to $0.11 per pound).

The Landfill Challenge: Plastic recycling faces numerous challenges, from contamination to the sheer diversity of plastic types. Consequently, a massive volume of plastic ends up in landfills. Annually, the U.S. generates over thirty-five million tons of plastic waste, and less than 9% of it is actually recycled. This means over thirty-two million tons of plastic are landfilled each year, contributing to pollution, taking up valuable landfill space, and representing a substantial loss of material that could otherwise be reprocessed into new products. Using a modest average price of $0.10 per pound for all mixed plastics, the lost value is a staggering $6.4 billion annually. Conclusion While the prices for recycled materials offer economic incentives, the vast quantities of valuable cardboard, aluminum, and plastic ending up in U.S. landfills annually highlight a critical challenge. We like to think of a challenge as an opportunity for success. When contemplating your opportunity to implement or enhance your recycling and demanufacturing efforts, it is good to remember that this is not simply an added cost to your business.