Smokey’s Corner
Hello everyone, and welcome to July 2024
The second half of 2024 is opening with mixed markets for cardboard. Export markets dropped by $5 per ton overall. Domestic mills are experiencing a surge in supply as a large paper mill in Port Angeles is shutting down. There is no word if this is a permanent closure, or if they will upgrade the out-of-date mill, or if they are closing for good. Domestic pricing sits flat, but we expect a drop from the increased supply in August.
This mill closure is nothing new; we have seen similar instances. Unfortunately, the closure makes ripples across more than just cardboard recycling markets. Disruptions in mill jobs, lumber, trucking, and all other support services are affected. Looking at the bottom line, markets are still tied to domestic inflation rates and decreased disposable income to purchase non-needy items.
Other grades have followed the same path as cardboard markets. The pricing of high-grade papers, office packs, and white ledger is flat for the month. Old newspapers, groundwood, and mixed paper follow the same flat pricing.
Metal scrap has stayed stable for the last few months, with a slight increase in aluminum pricing.
Plastic markets have been interesting this year. We are finally seeing a rise in pricing for PET and HDPE, while plastic films and other grades have stayed on an even keel.
In closing for the month, I want to thank all of you personally for your continued business. Please let us know if we aren’t meeting your expectations in any areas. As a reminder, we offer many different equipment options for purchase, including compactors, balers, and many other waste and recycling management options. We also offer waste audits, consulting, and in-plant operations with our full-time recycling specialists.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. God Bless!!
Smoke
Equipment Spotlight: Closed Door Horizontal Balers
Pro Baler Services offers multiple horizontal closed-door baler options. This baler is usually the best next step when a vertical downstroke baler is not handling your material volume. Horizontal Balers can handle cardboard, films, and many other materials. The benefits of upgrading include but aren’t limited to increased options for loading, handling larger pieces of material, and increasing bale size and weight. Please let us know if you are interested in looking at options to help with higher volumes and larger materials. One of our representatives would be happy to help. 801-266-3610 or sales@prorecyclinggroup.com.
WSWRA Gold Sponsor
Next August, The Pro Recycling Group is excited to announce that we are a Gold Sponsor for the Wyoming Solid Waste and Recycling Association’s 2024 Annual Conference. Join us in Wyoming for great speakers and tremendous networking with industry peers.
Market Material Updates
Here is our quick overview of recycling markets in the West. Pricing is a net overall because we cover a large geographic area. Actual net returns/changes may vary per customer location.
OCC Corrugated Cardboard: OCC markets have seen pricing hold in domestic markets, while export markets have dropped by about $5 per ton. Increased ocean freight and less consumption in domestic markets are keeping pricing from gaining value.
Office Pack / White Grades: Prices for office paper and white grades are holding on pricing.
Mixed Paper / Newspaper: Prices in most markets held for the month.
Post-Consumer Plastics: The PET market saw prices start to increase again this month, with some increases noted. HDPE plastics are seeing pricing hold. Markets are showing more consumption of recycled content, but the market is full of inventories.
Plastics Films: The market for plastic films is starting to show signs of increasing value. Films saw a pricing increase last month and are seeing prices hold for June. Keep colors sorted away from clear films for the best pricing.
Printer Grades: Print grades are seeing markets hold. Prices remain steady for the month following the trend in white and office grades.