Post-consumer low density polyethylene pellet prices have increased in North America during the first quarter of 2024.
Sources told Plastics News recycled LDPE pellets have increased an average of 5 cents per pound. The new range for clear post-consumer pellets is 77-83 cents, and the range for colored post-consumer pellets is 40-45 cents.
These changes are shown on this week's PN resin pricing chart.
"There's more demand for post-consumer, so the scrap has gone up and your costs have gone up a little bit too," said a recycler from California "Also, your energy costs have gone up and trucking is still up there, so there's a lot of factors that go into it."
Prices for recycled LDPE had been decreasing during the second half of 2023. Sources now expect buyers to continue to see slightly higher prices throughout the rest of 2024.
"I could see prices going up. Another couple pennies to 2-4 cents in 2024," the source added.