Northeast commodity prices continued falling in Q2

Resource Recycling • September 10, 2025

In the Northeast, recycled commodity prices continued to decline in April-June, with MRFs experiencing an average decrease of nearly 6% compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) second-quarter MRF Values Survey Report.

NERC’s 25th quarterly report analyzed data from 19 MRFs across 12 states, excluding two facilities from the average blended value “because they did not market enough commodities within Q2 to provide a representative comparison with other MRFs.”


Compared to the previous quarter, the responding MRFs reported average values per ton for blended recyclables with residuals at $82.68, a decrease of 7.74%, or $96.21 per ton, a 5.99% decline without residuals. Thirteen of the 17 MRFs contributing to the weighted average were single-stream, while four operated on a dual-stream/source-separated basis.


In the Northeast, dual-stream facilities reported a blended value of $99.74 without residuals and $86.52 including residuals, experiencing decreases of 7% and 7.16% from the previous quarter, respectively. Single-stream MRFs recorded blended values of $95.08 without residuals, down 5.7%, and $81.28,down 8.3%, with residuals.


Factors such as tariffs and weak demand have led major waste haulers to adjust their forecasts, anticipating challenges due to economic uncertainty for the remainder of 2025. 


This dip in commodity prices was reflected in second-quarter earnings reports, with four companies reporting an average year-over-year decrease of 15% in commodity values.


Houston-based WM projected a $15 million decline in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization due to softening demand.

However, the emergence of new and upgraded polymer facilities is enhancing processing capabilities, driven by the expectation of high demand for recycled PET.


A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on Sept 9.


Read on Resource Recycling.

Share Post

By Sophie Leone June 9, 2026
Rowan University, located in Glassboro New Jersey, was founded in 1923 and has since evolved into a public research institution that is ranked among the top 100 in the nation. As a fast-growing institution, Rowan is committed to high-quality affordable education. Rowan offers over 100 bachelor's programs and has 15 colleges and schools for students to specialize in their degrees. Rowan also has multiple institutes and center specializing in a plethora of multiple areas of study. One such institute is its Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute (AMMI) where cutting edge science and engineering is occurring to improve upon materials and the processes with which we make, utilize, and reuse them. AMMI was founded by Dr. Joe Stanzione, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rowan. Dr. Stanzione recently received a two-year New Jersey DEP grant which would expand the university's glass recycling effort. The goal of this two-year project is to “grow the recently established Glass Education, Research, and Recirculation Program (GERRP) that is a partnership between Rowan's Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute (AMMI) and Bottle Underground.” GERRP works to recirculate waste glass and connect end-users on Rowans' campus and the surrounding local economy to the supply. “With its rich history in innovative glass science and revolutionary glass manufacturing, it makes sense to explore, implement, and grow game-changing glass recirculation strategies in Southern New Jersey, strategies that we hope can be emulated regionally and adopted globally,” states Joe Stanzione. NERC is excited to welcome Rowan University and the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute to our growing academic community. We look forward to supporting their efforts in the glass industry. For more information on the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute (AMMI) at Rowan University visit.
By Sophie Leone May 27, 2026
Founded by Cynthia Andela, Andela Products is a leader in Glass Recycling. Since its inception, Andela Products has expanded into designing complete systems to pulverize, clean and screen post-consumer waste glass. Andela uses cost-effective systems to transform waste glass into usable, high-value materials. Andela provides multiple applications such as a Pulverizer, Crusher, Laminated Glass, CleanGlass Cleaup Systems, and Single Stream Recycling. The variety in systems allows Andela to reach a diverse network of businesses and expand their reach. In addition to equipment, Andela has a detailed library of resources and safety information on the recycled glass market. Providing the community, and those in the industry, with details on glassphalt, sand and aggregates, glass sand as soil amendments, PCR, best practices and much more. Andela features testimonials on their websites, showcasing the prestige and easy operational use of their equipment by customers. With some customers stating, “We are incredibly satisfied with the GP-MegaMini from Andela Products — it is efficient, reliable, and its performance has exceeded our expectations” and “We appreciate the ease of ordering wear parts and value the attention and service we receive from Andela Products, it’s a true partnership”. NERC is excited to welcome Andela Products into our growing glass community. We look forward to supporting an organization committed to innovation and advancing technology while promoting education and best practices. For more information on Andela Products visit.
By Megan Fontes May 26, 2026
Aluminum, Clear Glass, and Natural HDPE See Significant Gains in Outbound Tons Marketed in 2025