This month there were continued improvements in cardboard, mixed paper, homogenous plastic grades, and ferrous metals.

Definitely, a good month across many of the commodity grades, and the improvements continue the trend of rising values for comingle materials. 

Of course, there are some discussions that markets are slowing/peaking, especially on the OCC and mixed paper grades. 

Also of concern, restrictions are happening on the movement of certain materials because of China’s renewed initiative on scrutinizing imported materials (referred to as the “National Sword” or “second green fence”). 

So far, this has mostly only affected mixed and bulky plastics.  The full extent of the campaign on material movement has probably not yet been felt, surely there is more to come on this topic.