Recovering value from material.
WHAT RECYCLING REVENUE DEPENDS ON
The volume of material recovered Its quality and cleanliness Commodity prices at the time of sale
WHY PRICE VOLATILITY MATTERS
Prices move substantially, and a material profitable one month may not be the next.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Which materials have reliable local markets.
WHAT TYPICALLY HAS VALUE
Metals, particularly non-ferrous Certain plastics Paper and cardboard Glass, where local processing exists
WHY LOCAL PROCESSING MATTERS
Material with no local buyer must be transported far, and transport frequently exceeds its value.
WHAT TO CALCULATE
Value per tonne, less collection, sorting, transport and handling.
WHAT DETERMINES MATERIAL VALUE
Cleanliness Separation by type Baling and density Consistency of supply
WHY CLEANLINESS DOMINATES
Contaminated material is rejected or heavily discounted.
WHAT CONTAMINATES IT
Food residue Mixed materials Moisture Non-recyclable items
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Sorting that produces clean, separated material.
WHAT BALING PROVIDES
Density, which reduces transport cost per tonne.
WHY IT MATTERS
Transporting loose material is transporting air.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT BUYERS
Who buys, at what price, in what quantity, and whether they pay.
WHY THAT LAST POINT
Non-payment by buyers is common in this sector.
WHAT TO TRACK
Tonnage by material Price achieved Rejection rates
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether each material is still worth collecting.
