Sell plastic waste: which plastics have value and how to sell
Plastic has resale value only when it is sorted by type and kept clean. Clear film and natural HDPE earn the most, while mixed or dirty plastic usually costs money to remove.
This guide is for businesses. If you are a householder, use your council's recycling service or your local recycling centre instead.
What is plastic waste worth?
Recyclable plastic is sold per tonne. The price depends heavily on the type of plastic and how clean it is.
What you are paid depends on:
- Polymer. Each plastic is recycled separately, so a single polymer earns more than a mixture.
- Colour. Clear and natural material earns the most, because it can be made into any colour.
- Contamination. Labels, food, moisture and other plastics all lower the price.
- Form. Baled material is cheaper to haul than loose material.
- The market. Prices follow the cost of new plastic and the demand for recycled content, which the UK Plastic Packaging Tax encourages.
For current market figures, see our plastic recycling prices page, which is updated every month.
Plastic grades buyers look for
| Grade | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LDPE film, clear | Pallet wrap and clear bags. Sold as 98/2, meaning 98% clear and 2% coloured | The best film grade |
| LDPE film, mixed colour | Coloured or printed film | Lower than clear film |
| HDPE, natural | Milk bottle type containers | High |
| HDPE, mixed colour | Drums, crates and coloured bottles | Mid range |
| PET, clear | Drinks bottles | Mid to high |
| PP | Crates, buckets, bulk bags and strapping | Mid range |
| PVC | Window frames and pipe | Specialist buyers |
| EPS | Expanded polystyrene packaging, compacted into blocks | Specialist buyers |
How to prepare plastic for sale
- Identify each plastic by its code: 1 is PET, 2 is HDPE, 3 is PVC, 4 is LDPE, 5 is PP and 6 is polystyrene.
- Keep polymers apart, and keep clear material apart from coloured.
- Keep film clean and dry, with labels, tape and strapping removed.
- Rinse containers and remove lids made of a different plastic.
- Bale film and bottles to cut haulage costs.
- Containers that held chemicals or oil may be hazardous waste. Ask a specialist before you sell them.
Your legal duties when you sell plastic waste
- Duty of care. Your business must store its waste safely and hand it only to someone authorised to take it. See the official guidance.
- Registered carrier. Whoever collects your material must be a registered waste carrier. Check the public register before the first collection.
- Waste transfer note. Complete one for every load, or a season ticket for regular collections, and keep it for two years.
- Carrying it yourself. If you regularly transport your own business waste you must register as a waste carrier. In England this is free when you only carry waste your own business produced, unless it is construction or demolition waste.
- Separation at work. In England, workplaces must keep dry recyclables, food waste and non recyclable waste apart. The rules began on 31 March 2025, and firms with fewer than 10 full time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027. Read the rules.
- Digital waste tracking. Since 1 October 2026, permitted sites that receive waste in England and Wales must record each load in the government's digital service. Carriers and dealers are due to follow in a later phase, so keep your transfer notes.
Rules differ slightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a plain English summary, not legal advice.
How to sell plastic waste on The Green Alchemist
- Register your business on The Green Alchemist.
- Create a selling listing with the grade, quantity, location and a clear photo of your plastic waste.
- Browse the directory of waste processors to find buyers and carriers who handle plastic waste, and contact them directly.
- Compare offers on price, collection and payment terms, and check each buyer's registration.
- Agree the collection, complete the waste transfer note and get paid by bank transfer.
Register and list your plastic waste
Frequently asked questions
Which plastics are worth selling?
Clear LDPE film, natural HDPE and clear PET are the most reliable. Mixed, dirty or multi layer plastics rarely have a resale value.
What does 98/2 mean?
It describes a bale of LDPE film that is 98% clear and 2% coloured. The higher the clear share, the higher the price.
How much plastic do I need?
Buyers usually want baled material in loads of a tonne or more. Smaller amounts can be stored until you have a full collection.
Is black plastic recyclable?
It is hard to sort with standard equipment, so it has little or no resale value. Keep it out of your clear and natural grades.
Related guides: Sell cardboard and paper, Sell scrap cans, Cut your waste costs.