We understand that you have questions about how plastic recyclables are impacted by changes in the commodities markets. Recent import restrictions imposed by China resulted in a dramatic decrease of prices for commodities, but the domestic plastic market remains strong.
Montgomery County’s plastics are sold on the domestic recycling market to a variety of vendors. In most cases, the plastic is sent to a mill, which will process the plastic into flakes or pellets. This material is then used by the mill or sold to manufacturers to produce a final product. A summary of the end market for each commodity is below—actual uses may vary.
For more information on our recycling programs, visit https://montgomerycountymd.gov/recycling.