Mixed recyclate prices uncertain

AWS Ecoplastics commercial director Duncan Oakes said that polymer prices are already falling and “stopping that link with Hong Kong is going to pull the prices [of mixed recyclate] down even further”.

Polymer prices have been consistently high for the last year, peaking in August and decreasing through October. Virgin PET prices have dropped by approximately 15% since the beginning of the year.

China has recently stopped accepting mixed plastic recyclate via the traditional route, across the border from Hong Kong, as the economic slowdown has impacted on manufacturing in the country.

Oakes blamed China’s previous willingness to accept contaminated plastics for perpetuating the problem of poor quality recyclate within the UK.

It is believed that even with new mixed plastic recycling capacity coming online within the UK, there is still not enough to deal with the stockpiles resulting from the China situation and that only good recyclate will be recycled.

“Even with that capacity and capacity of other plants, I imagine there will still be an oversupply,” said Oakes.

Recoup senior project manager Stuart Foster said that there are still markets for separated bottles as these are sold into Europe and the mainland.

In the context of the general market volatility the Environmental Services Association said that it is “looking for partnership with our local authority customers and other authorities to continue to deliver the most affordable and sustainable service”.

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