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PRESS RELEASE

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Date: May 25, 2023

Downward Trend Decelerates in Material Values for Quarter Ending March 31

NERC’s MRF Values Survey Quarterly Report for the period January – March 2023 showed a slight downward trend in values, with a -2% change from the previous quarter for values without residuals1, and -2% change for values with residuals. This is the 16th report in NERC’s series of quarterly reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. The report includes information from ten states: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

Q1 2023 MRF Values

These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Four of the states have beverage container deposit laws.  As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states.

1Residuals refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a perfect ton of marketed material, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs associated of disposing unmarketable material. Note: In many cases, recovered glass goes to market but at a negative value.