While recycling prices remained stable for almost all recycled grades this week, there are things happening in the background that could make September more volatile.
With many people on holiday either side of the August Bank Holiday weekend (apart from Scotland), trading volumes were reportedly small.
But there is activity going on in the PRN market that has pushed some even higher, with predictions that they will explode in September as people get back from holiday and realise obligations need to be met. The expectation is that they will go higher, but how high is a matter for speculation. However, it is true that overall the PRN market has never been higher than it has so far.
Exporters have also reportedly struggled to get containers this week, due to an ongoing situation with a new Terminal Operating System that was introduced at Felixstowe in June still causing issues, combined with the fact that more lorry drivers than usual appear to be on holiday. Both of these are expected to be temporary.
International markets remain challenging with Vietnam reportedly struggling still to process containers at portside, while Turkey looks effectively shut at the moment while the value of the Turkish lira drops.
Those that are able to export found the pound strengthened slightly against the dollar to reach $1.28 compared to $1.27 last week, but it still makes UK material very good value compared to other markets.
But anybody sending material into Europe this week will have found better value, with it dropping from €1.12 a week ago to €1.11 by the end of the week.
Recycled plastics
Turkey has emerged as a key market for some grades of recycled plastics (particularly film) over the last few months, but this market appears to have ground to a halt.
A spat with the US Government caused the Turkish lira to crash last week against international currencies, having steadily declined over previous months anyway.
The crash immediately made it more expensive for Turkish buyers to purchase material, so they switched off. While it also makes it better value to sell the recycled material on the international market, it is the current uncertainty that has led them to halt purchases until things settle down again especially if the finished material is to be used for domestic purposes.
This means that destinations for plastic grades are becoming increasingly difficult to find at the moment with Asia effectively closed, Europe on holiday and domestic purchasers picking and choosing.
There is also increasing panic over the value of the plastic PRN. It increased to over £70 this week from around £65 a week ago, and there are predictions it will rise even higher in September as people return from holiday and panic over their obligation for the rest of the year. It will all depend on whether the data shows anything different of course.
Recycled paper
Prices for paper grades didn’t really change this week, but the situation in the market remains uncertain.
Chinese buyers were still paying top dollar for OCC and news & pam, with the exchange rate, increasing PRN and cheap shipping all helping. They were also aided by small price rises for domestic material in China.
At present, the tariff on US material hasn’t had any impact on the UK market, as it appears that US buyers and sellers have agreed to meet half way on the tariff costs that has helped to mitigate some of the impact, especially as US domestic mills are also buying helping to bring some competition to price.
Exporters to China have also reported a difficulty in getting containers as mentioned above, but this is expected to be temporary.
There are also grumbles about the inspection regime being introduced by CCIC that requires pre-loading photos being sent to the inspection company. However, this is still more lax than the inspection regimes being implemented by CCIC in other countries. This is leading to fears that UK material might not be deemed legal when it reaches Chinese customs, plus confusion remains around exactly what the UK to China inspection regime should actually be and how it is exactly being implemented.
UK and European mills are reportedly getting full having gorged on cheap mixed, and the coming weeks could see some easing off in purchases of that grade in particular.
Recycled metal
There were no changes for industrial metals this week, but the price of steel grades fell by £10 per tonne across the board, including cans.
Recycling Prices
If you wish to see a longer data set on each table or chart, change the ‘show 10 entries’ drop down to your preferred choice. Both the table and chart (if there is one) will adjust automatically. Our full data set is available here to subscribers.Â
UK plastic bottles
wdt_ID UK £ Mixed bottles A Mixed bottles B PET HDPE Natural 95/5
1
16/02/2018
50-100
-10-30
160
360
2
09/02/2018
50-100
-10-30
160
360
3
02/02/2018
50-100
-10-30
160
360
4
26/01/2018
60-110
0-30
170
380
5
19/01/2018
60-110
0-30
170
380
6
12/01/2018
60-110
0-30
170
380
7
05/01/2018
60-110
0-30
170
380
8
15/12/2017
60-110
0-30
170
390
9
08/12/2017
60-110
0-30
170
390
10
01/12/2017
60-110
0-30
170
390
UK HDPE, Wheelie Bins, HIPS, EPS, PP
wdt_ID UK £ HDPE Regrind Wheelie Bins HIPS Regrind EPS PP Regrind
1
16/02/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
2
09/02/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
3
02/02/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
4
26/01/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
5
19/01/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
6
12/01/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
7
05/01/2018
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
8
15/12/2017
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
9
08/12/2017
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
10
01/12/2017
470-490
270-300
300-350
400-450
470-510
UK LDPE film
wdt_ID UK £ LDPE 99/1 LDPE 98/2 LDPE 95/5 LDPE 90/10 Jazz Film
1
16/02/2018
200-270
170
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
2
09/02/2018
200-270
170
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
3
02/02/2018
200-270
170
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
4
26/01/2018
240-290
190
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
5
19/01/2018
240-290
190
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
6
12/01/2018
240-290
190
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
7
05/01/2018
240-290
190
60-100
0-40
-70-(-30)
8
15/12/2017
250-300
200
70-110
10-50
-70-(-30)
9
08/12/2017
250-300
200
70-110
10-50
-70-(-30)
10
01/12/2017
275-315
225
70-110
10-50
-70-(-30)
UK pots, tubs, trays
wdt_ID UK £ Mixed carrier bags Mixed hard plastics Mixed plastic trays
1
16/02/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
2
09/02/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
3
02/02/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
4
26/01/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
5
19/01/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
6
12/01/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
7
05/01/2018
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
8
15/12/2017
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
9
08/12/2017
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
10
01/12/2017
-70-(-30)
-70-(-30)
-55-(-65)
UK OCC, ONP, Mixed paper
wdt_ID UK £ OCC ONP Mixed paper
1
16/02/2018
65
87
10
2
09/02/2018
62
87
10
3
02/02/2018
68
87
12
4
26/01/2018
87
95
37
5
19/01/2018
97
97
45
6
12/01/2018
105
97
55
7
05/01/2018
110
100
62
8
15/12/2017
110
100
62
9
08/12/2017
117
100
62
10
01/12/2017
142
100
62
UK soft mixed, OIN, SOW
wdt_ID UK £ Soft mixed OI news SOW
1
16/02/2018
0-20
120-130
165-175
2
09/02/2018
0-20
120-130
165-175
3
02/02/2018
0-20
120-130
165-175
4
26/01/2018
25-35
120-130
165-175
5
19/01/2018
30-40
120-130
165-175
6
12/01/2018
35-45
120-130
165-175
7
05/01/2018
35-45
120-130
165-175
8
15/12/2017
35-45
120-130
165-175
9
08/12/2017
35-45
120-130
165-175
10
01/12/2017
35-45
120-130
165-175
UK Multi, WHL, BW2
wdt_ID UK £ Multi grade WHL BW2
1
16/02/2018
150-170
238-244
280-290
2
09/02/2018
150-170
238-244
280-290
3
02/02/2018
150-170
238-244
280-290
4
26/01/2018
155-170
238-244
280-290
5
19/01/2018
155-170
238-244
280-290
6
12/01/2018
155-170
238-244
280-290
7
05/01/2018
155-170
238-244
280-290
8
15/12/2017
155-170
238-244
280-290
9
08/12/2017
155-170
238-244
280-290
10
01/12/2017
160-175
238-244
280-290
UK copper
wdt_ID UK £ Copper Dry bright wire New tube Braziery Clean Pyro
1
16/02/2018
4,300
4250-4350
4175-4275
3350-3450
1700-1800
2
09/02/2018
4,300
4250-4350
4175-4275
3350-3450
1700-1800
3
02/02/2018
4,400
4350-4450
4275-4375
3450-3550
1800-1900
4
26/01/2018
4,400
4350-4450
4275-4375
3450-3550
1800-1900
5
19/01/2018
4,400
4350-4450
4275-4375
3450-3550
1800-1900
6
12/01/2018
4,600
4550-4650
4475-4575
3650-3750
2000-2100
7
05/01/2018
4,600
4550-4650
4475-4575
3650-3750
2000-2100
8
15/12/2017
4,200
4150-4250
4075-4175
3250-3350
1600-1700
9
08/12/2017
4,200
4150-4250
4075-4175
3250-3350
1600-1700
10
01/12/2017
4,200
4150-4250
4075-4175
3250-3350
1600-1700
UK brass
wdt_ID UK £ Brass (Honey) Mixed brass Rod swarf Brass/copper rads
1
16/02/2018
2,700
2650-2750
2475-2575
2400-2500
2
09/02/2018
2,700
2650-2750
2475-2575
2400-2500
3
02/02/2018
2,700
2650-2750
2475-2575
2400-2500
4
26/01/2018
2,800
2750-2850
2575-2675
2500-2600
5
19/01/2018
2,800
2750-2850
2575-2675
2500-2600
6
12/01/2018
2,800
2750-2850
2575-2675
2500-2600
7
05/01/2018
2,900
2850-2950
2675-2725
2600-2700
8
15/12/2017
2,650
2600-2700
2425-2525
2350-2450
9
08/12/2017
2,650
2600-2700
2425-2525
2350-2450
10
01/12/2017
2,650
2600-2700
2425-2525
2350-2450
UK aluminium alloys
wdt_ID UK £ Taint/Tabor Alum Bronze solids Low grade cable Household cable
1
16/02/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
2
09/02/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
3
02/02/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
4
26/01/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
5
19/01/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
6
12/01/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
7
05/01/2018
1,350
2050-2150
525-575
1050-1150
8
15/12/2017
1,300
2000-2100
475-525
1000-1100
9
08/12/2017
1,300
2000-2100
475-525
1000-1100
10
01/12/2017
1,400
2100-2200
575-625
1100-1200
UK aluminum
wdt_ID UK £ Clean HE9 Clean alu wheels Cast alu Old rolled alu
1
16/02/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
2
09/02/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
3
02/02/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
4
26/01/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
5
19/01/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
6
12/01/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
7
05/01/2018
800-900
1000-1050
700-750
475-525
8
15/12/2017
750-850
950-1000
650-700
425-525
9
08/12/2017
750-850
950-1000
650-700
425-525
10
01/12/2017
850-950
1025-1125
750-800
525-575
UK stainless steel, zinc, lead
wdt_ID UK £ 18/8 stainless 316 stainless Zinc Lead Lead batteries
1
16/02/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
2
09/02/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
3
02/02/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
4
26/01/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
5
19/01/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
6
12/01/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
7
05/01/2018
725-775
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
8
15/12/2017
675-725
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
9
08/12/2017
675-725
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
10
01/12/2017
675-725
975-1025
800-900
1400-1500
625-675
UK ferrous
wdt_ID UK £ HMS 1 Light iron O/S shearing O/S construction Mixed iron
1
16/02/2018
180
135-175
145-185
130-170
150-190
2
09/02/2018
180
135-175
145-185
130-170
150-190
3
02/02/2018
180
135-175
145-185
130-170
150-190
4
26/01/2018
180
135-175
145-185
130-170
150-190
5
19/01/2018
190
145-185
155-195
140-180
160-200
6
12/01/2018
200
155-195
165-205
150-190
170-210
7
05/01/2018
200
155-195
165-205
150-190
170-210
8
15/12/2017
195
150-190
160-200
145-185
165-205
9
08/12/2017
195
150-190
160-200
145-185
165-205
10
01/12/2017
175
130-170
140-180
125-165
145-185
UK engines, cans, plugs
wdt_ID UK £ EOLV Steel UBC Aluminium UBCs Plugs and chargers
1
16/02/2018
95-135
120-160
1000-1100
110-130
2
09/02/2018
95-135
120-160
1000-1100
110-130
3
02/02/2018
95-135
120-160
1000-1100
110-130
4
26/01/2018
95-135
120-160
1050-1150
110-130
5
19/01/2018
105-145
130-170
1050-1150
110-130
6
12/01/2018
115-155
140-180
1050-1150
110-130
7
05/01/2018
115-155
140-180
1050-1150
110-130
8
15/12/2017
110-150
135-175
1000-1150
110-130
9
08/12/2017
110-150
135-175
1000-1150
110-130
10
01/12/2017
90-130
115-155
1000-1150
110-130
UK glass
wdt_ID UK £ Clear Amber Green Mixed
1
16/02/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
2
09/02/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
3
02/02/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
4
26/01/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
5
19/01/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
6
12/01/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
7
05/01/2018
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
8
15/12/2017
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
9
08/12/2017
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
10
01/12/2017
18-28
14-20
9-13
2-8
PRN paper, plastic, glass
wdt_ID UK £ Paper Plastic Glass Remelt Glass Other
1
16/02/2018
1.80-2.20
56-58
11-12
10.50-11.50
2
09/02/2018
1.25-1.75
56-58
10.50-11.50
10-11
3
02/02/2018
1.25-1.75
56-58
10.50-11.50
10-11
4
26/01/2018
1.50-2.00
54-56
10.50-11.50
9.50-11
5
19/01/2018
1.50-2.00
52-56
10-12
9-11
6
12/01/2018
1.50-2.00
50-54
10-12
9-11
7
05/01/2018
1.25-1.75
51-55
9.50-11.50
9-11
8
15/12/2017
1.25-1.75
48-52
9.50-11.50
8.50-10.50
9
08/12/2017
1.50-2.00
39-43
9-11
9-11
10
01/12/2017
1.65-2.15
29-33
9-11
9-11
PRNs wood, steel, alu, recovery
wdt_ID UK £ Wood Steel Aluminium Recovery
1
16/02/2018
8-9
4-6
20-24
0.4-0.5
2
09/02/2018
7.25-8.25
4-6
20-24
0.4-0.5
3
02/02/2018
7.25-8.25
4-6
20-24
0.4-0.5
4
26/01/2018
5-6
4-6
33-37
0.4-0.5
5
19/01/2018
4.50-5.50
5-7
33-37
0.4-0.5
6
12/01/2018
4.50-5.50
5-7
33-37
0.4-0.5
7
05/01/2018
4.50-5.50
4.50-5.50
33-37
0.4-0.5
8
15/12/2017
4.50-5.50
1-2
14-16
0.4-0.5
9
08/12/2017
4-5
1-2
14-16
0.4-0.5
10
01/12/2017
1.75-2.25
1-3
4-6
0.4-0.5
UK gate fees, RDF, landfill
wdt_ID UK £ RDF - UK Landfill Tax Landfill Gate fee
1
16/02/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
2
09/02/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
3
02/02/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
4
26/01/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
5
19/01/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
6
12/01/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
7
05/01/2018
65-85
86.10
10-20
8
15/12/2017
65-85
86.10
10-20
9
08/12/2017
65-85
86.10
10-20
10
01/12/2017
65-85
86.10
10-20
UK Gate Fees - EFW, AD, MRF
wdt_ID UK £ Energy from Waste Anaerobic digestion MRF
1
16/02/2018
60-90
60-90
60-90
2
09/02/2018
25-35
25-35
25-35
3
02/02/2018
0-30
0-30
0-30
4
26/01/2018
60-90
25-35
0-30
5
19/01/2018
60-90
25-35
0-30
6
12/01/2018
60-90
25-35
0-30
7
05/01/2018
60-90
25-35
0-30
8
15/12/2017
60-90
25-35
0-30
9
08/12/2017
60-90
25-35
0-30
10
01/12/2017
60-90
25-35
0-30
China plastics
wdt_ID USD $ PET flake PET bottle HDPE Natural LDPE 98/2
1
16/02/2018
821
486
874
544
2
09/02/2018
821
486
874
544
3
02/02/2018
760
486
772
538
4
26/01/2018
760
486
772
538
5
19/01/2018
760
486
772
538
6
12/01/2018
760
486
772
538
7
05/01/2018
760
486
772
538
8
15/12/2017
696
403
760
684
9
08/12/2017
785
570
798
630
10
01/12/2017
785
570
798
630
China paper
wdt_ID USD $ OCC ONP Mixed
1
16/02/2018
230
257
149
2
09/02/2018
230
257
149
3
02/02/2018
235
240
155
4
26/01/2018
235
240
155
5
19/01/2018
235
240
155
6
12/01/2018
235
240
155
7
05/01/2018
235
240
155
8
15/12/2017
250
262
151
9
08/12/2017
255
262
159
10
01/12/2017
255
262
159
China metals
wdt_ID USD $ Copper Wire Brass (Honey) Taint/Tabor HMS 1
1
16/02/2018
6,175
4,650
1,285
144
2
09/02/2018
6,175
4,650
1,285
144
3
02/02/2018
6,135
4,635
1,595
153
4
26/01/2018
6,135
4,635
1,595
153
5
19/01/2018
6,135
4,635
1,595
153
6
12/01/2018
6,135
4,635
1,595
153
7
05/01/2018
6,135
4,635
1,595
153
8
15/12/2017
6,205
5,230
1,390
155
9
08/12/2017
6,190
5,210
1,440
130
10
01/12/2017
6,190
5,210
1,440
130
US plastics
wdt_ID USD $ PET bottles HDPE Natural LDPE Grade A
1
16/02/2018
450
585
350
2
09/02/2018
450
585
350
3
02/02/2018
450
585
350
4
26/01/2018
450
585
350
5
19/01/2018
450
585
350
6
12/01/2018
450
585
350
7
05/01/2018
450
585
350
8
15/12/2017
400
585
350
9
08/12/2017
400
585
350
10
01/12/2017
460
585
350
US paper
wdt_ID USD $ OCC ONP Mixed
1
16/02/2018
110
80
40
2
09/02/2018
110
80
40
3
02/02/2018
110
80
40
4
26/01/2018
110
80
40
5
19/01/2018
120
80
60
6
12/01/2018
120
80
60
7
05/01/2018
120
80
60
8
15/12/2017
120
80
60
9
08/12/2017
120
80
60
10
01/12/2017
120
80
60
US metals
wdt_ID USD $ Copper Wire Brass (Honey) Taint/Tabor HMS 1
1
16/02/2018
5,950
3,636
2,512
320
2
09/02/2018
5,950
3,636
2,512
320
3
02/02/2018
6,061
3,636
2,512
320
4
26/01/2018
6,061
3,636
2,512
320
5
19/01/2018
6,237
3,592
2,512
265
6
12/01/2018
6,237
3,592
2,512
265
7
05/01/2018
6,170
2,975
2,468
265
8
15/12/2017
5,906
3,416
2,424
265
9
08/12/2017
5,775
2,909
2,424
265
10
01/12/2017
5,884
3,415
2,468
295