Prices for recovered packaging materials are showing signs of stabilising following a crash, although the jury is still out on how long it will take for the market to fully recover. Glass prices have remained stable, but that cannot be said for other materials. In November the price of recovered paper reached £1/tonne, while recovered plastic and steel hit zero, prompting fears of a collapse of the UK's recycling system & household waste collections ending up in landfill. The crash highlighted the country's dependence on exporting waste, particularly to China. The market was already bracing for the effect of the credit crunch, as demand from construction & auto sectors fell, which was further compounded by the Chinese decision not to accept mixed waste.
