Earlier this month the verified packaging recycling data for Q3 was released by the Environment Agency.
The Q3 data, which reported the amount of packaging waste recycled or exported between July and September 2017, revealed positive results for most grades and a stronger than expected return for plastic, this year’s most volatile grade. With most materials on track to meet their annual targets, and many grades experiencing a rise in recycling levels during this quarter, PRN trading has remained steady in November.
Aluminium and steel are the only grades to have experienced a drop in recycling and this month we’ve seen a slow down in trading for both grades. Paper, which experienced a drop in recycling in Q2, recovered in this latest quarter, and continues to trade in high volumes this month, with a softening in price as a result.
Glass and wood PRNs also continue to trade in excellent volumes, as does plastic, which has seen a drop in price since the data was released.
Chris Taylor, Commercial Manager at Clarity Environmental said: “The Q3 data revealed positive results for most grades. With the confirmation that plastic performed beyond expectations, and with strong indications that this year’s obligation will be met with ease, we saw an immediate response to the provisional data last month, with plastic prices dropping significantly. Mirroring the two-peak drop that was seen in plastic two years ago, we did see plastic prices creeping up earlier this month but, as predicted, we have now experienced a further drop and excellent trading volumes.”
With the impact of China’s import restrictions on plastic and paper still unclear, we will continue to closely follow the market in this final quarter of the year to monitor the effect on PRN production.
Clarity has been buying and selling packaging recovery notes (PRNs) since our business started in 2002. We are now one of the largest and most experienced open market traders of PRNs. To talk to our team about buying or selling any grade of packaging recovery note (PRN), contact us on 0845 129 7177.
