Plastic recycling prices UK
HDPE averaged £261 per tonne in July 2026, down 15% on the month before and down 18% on a year earlier. These are average UK export values from HMRC. They show the market trend, and a dealer's offer for your material will be lower.
Plastic recycling prices UK in July 2026
| Material | Jul 2026, per tonne | Month before | Change | A year earlier | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE | £261 | £306 | down 14.7% | £318 | down 17.9% |
| LDPE, including film | £177 | £162 | up 9.3% | £217 | down 18.4% |
| PET | £223 | £211 | up 5.7% | £347 | down 35.7% |
| PP | £300 | £325 | down 7.7% | £280 | up 7.1% |
| PVC | £407 | £424 | down 4.0% | £443 | down 8.1% |
| Polystyrene | £411 | £427 | down 3.7% | £491 | down 16.3% |
| Other plastics | £104 | £80 | up 30.0% | £85 | up 22.4% |
HDPE, month by month
| Month | Average per tonne | Change | Tonnes exported |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | £261 | down 14.7% | 7,658 |
| June 2026 | £306 | up 0.3% | 6,850 |
| May 2026 | £305 | up 12.5% | 7,430 |
| April 2026 | £271 | down 11.4% | 6,634 |
| March 2026 | £306 | down 4.7% | 6,160 |
| February 2026 | £321 | down 23.4% | 3,944 |
| January 2026 | £419 | up 59.3% | 3,751 |
| December 2025 | £263 | down 1.5% | 5,399 |
| November 2025 | £267 | down 8.9% | 5,062 |
| October 2025 | £293 | down 13.3% | 4,957 |
| September 2025 | £338 | down 12.2% | 3,475 |
| August 2025 | £385 | up 21.1% | 3,834 |
| July 2025 | £318 | n/a | 5,039 |
How to read these figures
These are average values, not offers. HMRC records the value and weight of the scrap and recovered material that leaves the UK, and dividing one by the other gives a price per tonne.
- They reflect large, sorted loads that are ready for export.
- A dealer buying from your business will pay less, to cover collection, sorting and their margin.
- Use them to follow the direction of the market and to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
What affects the price you are offered
- Grade and cleanliness. Sorted, clean material earns the most.
- Quantity. Regular, larger loads earn better terms.
- Distance. Haulage comes out of the price.
Our guide explains the grades and how to prepare your material: How to sell plastic waste.
Register and list your plastic waste
Frequently asked questions
Which plastic is worth the most?
In July 2026 the highest value in the HMRC figures was Polystyrene at £411 per tonne, and the lowest was Other plastics at £104 per tonne. Clean material of a single type always earns more than mixed loads.
Is this the price a dealer will pay me?
No. These figures are the average value of UK exports recorded by HMRC, which reflects large, sorted loads that are ready for export. A dealer buying from your business will offer less, depending on grade, quantity and distance. Use the figures to follow the market and to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
Why are plastic prices so different from each other?
Each plastic is recycled separately and has its own market. Clean material of a single type, in clear or natural colours, earns the most, and mixed plastic earns the least.
Do recyclers pay for plastic waste?
Often, for clean plastic of a single type that is baled and available regularly. Mixed or dirty plastic usually costs money to have collected.
How often are these prices updated?
Monthly. HMRC publishes trade figures about six weeks after the end of each month, and this page updates automatically when new figures arrive.
More prices: Cardboard and paper prices, Glass prices, Scrap metal prices, all prices.