There's no single "market price" for plastic scrap. What a buyer pays depends on resin type, color, contamination level, and where oil prices happen to be sitting that month.
This guide breaks down current pricing by material, what pushes those numbers up or down, and how sellers can capture more value from every load they move.
Key Takeaways
- Natural HDPE and clean PET typically earn the most per pound; color HDPE and mixed loads trail behind.
- Contamination and poor sorting can cost sellers as much as market swings do.
- Single-resin, well-baled loads consistently outsell mixed or dirty scrap.
- Freight and regional capacity can shrink net payout even when quoted prices look strong.
- A certified, full-service recycler helps sellers secure fair pricing with less guesswork.
Current Plastic Scrap Recycling Prices by Material Type
Plastic scrap doesn't trade on a single national price sheet. Buyers quote per pound or per ton, and rates shift by resin, region, and month. Resource Recycling's April 2026 national averages show just how far apart these grades can land:
| Material | April 2026 Average | March 2026 Average | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET #1 bottles/jars | $0.0144/lb | $0.0174/lb | Down |
| HDPE #2 natural | $0.7516/lb | $0.6844/lb | Up |
| HDPE #2 color | $0.0850/lb | $0.0538/lb | Up |
| LDPE Grade A film | $0.1575/lb | $0.1444/lb | Up |
| LDPE Grade B film | $0.0669/lb | $0.0594/lb | Up |
| PP #5 | $0.1638/lb | $0.1253/lb | Up |
These are national averages for sorted, baled, picked-up material. Actual quotes vary by buyer and region.
PET (#1) Scrap Prices
Post-consumer PET has had a rough stretch. National averages sat around 1.4 cents per pound in April 2026, down from 1.7 cents the prior month.
Regional gaps are stark, too. Southeastern buyers paid closer to 5 cents per pound in May, while Upper Midwest and Northeast sellers saw very low single digits, with some contracts turning negative once freight was factored in.
HDPE (#2) Scrap Prices
Natural HDPE remains the standout performer, averaging 75.16 cents per pound in April 2026 versus just 8.50 cents for color HDPE, roughly a 9-to-1 spread. Natural bottles reprocess into a wider range of end products without added pigment, so buyers pay a steep premium to keep it separated from colored bottles.
LDPE (#4) Scrap Prices
LDPE film scrap trades in two tiers. Grade A film (at least 95% clear, natural material) averaged 15.75 cents per pound in April, while Grade B film, which allows more color and printed content, came in at 6.69 cents.
Those clarity and contamination spreads matter most when you sell to a polyethylene specialist. PPP, LLC has ground and pelletized HDPE and LDPE scrap from manufacturers, processors, and converters since 1967.
PP (#5) and Other Grades (PS, Mixed/#7)
Polypropylene climbed to 16.38 cents per pound in April, up from 12.53 cents in March, one of the sharpest month-over-month gains among major resins. PS and mixed #7 scrap remain thin markets with few buyers and prices that can swing sharply from one month to the next.
These figures are reference points, not guarantees. Actual pricing depends on your buyer, region, and load quality, so the only way to know what your scrap is worth today is to request a current quote from a processor.
Key Factors That Influence Plastic Scrap Prices
Scrap pricing isn't one formula. It's a mix of material characteristics and macroeconomic pressure working together.
The main price drivers are:
- Resin type and grade
- Color and clarity
- Contamination and sort quality
- Manufacturer demand for PCR
- Oil prices and trade policy
- Supply volume and consistency
Resin Type and Grade
HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE each serve different end markets and move at different prices. HDPE feeds durable goods and packaging with steady reprocessor demand. Film-grade LDPE and LLDPE track bag and flexible-packaging needs and can swing with those orders. By contrast, PET often competes against cheap virgin resin and a thinner buyer pool—one reason strong PE grades frequently outprice it pound for pound.
Color and Clarity
Clear and natural plastic reprocesses into more products because manufacturers can tint it to whatever color they need. Colored or dark material locks buyers into limited end uses, which is why natural HDPE sells for roughly nine times more than color HDPE.
Contamination and Sorting Quality
Bale specifications set the bar. APR standards allow no more than 5% total contamination in Grade A film and 10% in Grade B. Exceed that, and a bale gets downgraded or rejected outright. Mixed labels, food residue, and improperly sorted loads are the usual culprits.
Market Demand from Manufacturers
Packaging brands need certified PCR resin to meet recycled-content laws, and that demand pulls prices up for qualifying grades. When a manufacturer needs HDPE or LDPE resin meeting California's content thresholds, certified, traceable scrap becomes more valuable than uncertified material of the same resin.
Global Economic Forces (Oil Prices & Trade Policy)
Virgin plastic is oil-based, so when crude prices rise, recycled resin becomes more competitive by comparison. Trade policy matters too. After China's 2018 National Sword import restrictions, U.S. scrap plastic exports fell 35% in a single year, forcing domestic processors to absorb volume that once went overseas and reshaping who buys U.S. scrap today.
Volume and Consistency of Supply
Processors plan production around reliable inputs. Suppliers who ship steady, predictable volumes usually earn stronger bids and preferred-buyer relationships; sporadic small loads create sourcing risk and rarely clear at the same price.
Beyond the Base Price: What Determines Your Net Payout
The per-pound price you're quoted isn't always what lands in your account. Deductions often chip away at that number before a sale closes.
Processing and handling. Sorting, cleaning, and baling all cost money, and buyers often build those costs into the price they offer rather than paying a flat rate and billing separately.
Transportation and logistics. Freight eats disproportionately into lower-value grades. In March 2026, PET averaged under 2 cents per pound picked up while freight costs soared. Some sellers effectively broke even once trucking was factored in.
Regional variation. California tracks its own beverage-container scrap values through CalRecycle's monthly notices, which can differ from national averages reported elsewhere. A processor two states over might quote a different price for identical material based purely on local processing capacity.
Before accepting a quote, ask:
- Is pickup or delivery factored into the price?
- Are sorting and baling deductions itemized?
- Does the rate reflect this week's market or a stale figure?
These questions matter most for lower-value grades like PET, mixed plastics, and lower-grade film, where thin margins make every deduction count.
High-Value vs. Low-Value Plastic Scrap: What's the Difference?
Not all scrap is treated equally, even within the same resin code. Here's what separates premium loads from commodity-grade material.
| Factor | High-Value Scrap | Low-Value Scrap |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | Single-resin, uncontaminated bales | Mixed resins or heavy contamination |
| Color | Natural or clear plastic | Dyed, printed, or dark-colored material |
| Consistency | Large, steady-volume suppliers | Inconsistent, small, sporadic batches |
| Compliance readiness | PCR-certifiable, documented sourcing | Requires extensive reprocessing before use |
Purity is the biggest lever. A bale that's 95%+ one resin, free of labels and residue, meets standards like APR's Grade A film spec and commands a real premium over anything mixed.
Color follows the same pattern as HDPE pricing: natural material outprices colored material because it can go into more finished products.
Consistency builds lasting supplier relationships. Processors prefer predictable volume month after month over one-off drop-offs.
Compliance readiness is increasingly the deciding factor. With brand owners under pressure to hit recycled-content mandates, scrap that's already traceable and PCR-certifiable skips a step that untracked material can't avoid.
How to Maximize the Value of Your Plastic Scrap
Sellers have more control over their payout than it often appears. A few operational choices before scrap ever reaches a processor can change the price you're offered.
Sort by resin type and color at the source. Separating natural HDPE from colored bottles, or keeping PET away from PVC, avoids contamination penalties before they happen. This single step often makes the biggest difference in what a buyer offers.
Invest in baling or basic pre-processing. Loose, unbaled material rarely meets minimum quality thresholds buyers look for. Even basic compaction signals a more serious supplier and can open doors to better-paying buyers.
Track monthly pricing trends before you sell. Resources like CalRecycle's statewide scrap value notices and industry indices publish monthly figures for major resins, helping you time sales and negotiate from an informed position.
Partner with an established, certified recycler. Buyers with documented quality systems and polyethylene expertise pay for clean, consistent loads instead of treating every shipment as a commodity dump. PPP, LLC has focused on HDPE and LDPE recycling, grinding, and pelletizing since 1967—PCR-certified with annual re-certification and an Association of Plastic Recyclers membership—so sellers get a documented, compliant path to market, not a one-off transaction.
For manufacturers and converters generating HDPE or LDPE scrap in California and beyond, working with a full-service recycler means:
- One point of contact for scrap evaluation, sorting guidance, and processing feedback
- Access to a buyer already positioned to support AB 478, SB 270, and SB 54 recycled-content documentation
- A processor with decades of grading and pelletizing experience specific to polyethylene scrap
Sellers who combine clean sorting, basic baling, market awareness, and a reliable buyer relationship consistently capture more value than those treating every load as a one-time sale. If you're ready to see what your material is worth, PPP's quote request process is a straightforward place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 1 kg of plastic waste?
It depends heavily on resin and quality. Using April 2026 national averages, PET converts to roughly $0.03/kg, color HDPE to about $0.19/kg, and natural HDPE to around $1.66/kg.
What are the 7 types of plastic recycling?
The seven resin codes are PET (#1), HDPE (#2), PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), PS (#6), and Other (#7). PET and HDPE have the strongest recycling infrastructure and value; PVC, PS, and mixed #7 plastics are harder to recycle and worth far less.
What is the highest-paying plastic to recycle?
Among common curbside resins, natural HDPE typically commands the highest per-pound price, followed by clean, well-sorted PET. Color and contamination levels can shift this significantly.
Why do plastic scrap prices fluctuate so much month to month?
Oil prices, manufacturer demand for recycled content, and global trade policy all move at once. A crude oil spike or a new import restriction can change scrap values within weeks.
Does the color of plastic scrap really affect its price?
Yes. Natural and clear plastic reprocesses into more end products, so it consistently sells for several times more than colored or dark material of the same resin type.
How can a business track current plastic scrap prices?
CalRecycle publishes monthly statewide scrap value notices, and industry indices track national averages by resin. For a transaction-specific number, contacting a certified processor such as PPP, LLC for a quote is the most reliable approach.
