North American prices for post-consumer low density polyethylene pellets have continued to increase in 2024.
Sources in contact with Plastics News say recycled LDPE pellets have increased on average 3.5 cents per pound. Clear post-consumer pellets increased by 4 cents and colored post-consumer pellets increased by 3 cents.
The price changes are shown on this week's Plastics News resin pricing chart.
"The demand is being driven by the legislation for PCR [post-consumer] content," said a recycler in the West. "The increase in demand for PCR has people buying premium bales and driving the whole market up."
Sources expect recycled LDPE to either stay steady or increase by a couple cents by the end of the year.
"Quite honestly, I could see it going up another 10 percent, which is about two to three cents," the source said.