Recycling can be a profitable business. The price for recycled materials like cardboard, paper, aluminum and plastics is above processing cost. PET plastic earns $150 per ton profit. However, some plastics are becoming less profitable to recycle due to declining prices. Meeting China’s new recycling standards has become too costly for some companies, forcing them to slow operations.
Starting a recycling business requires $20,000 to $30,000 for a smooth facility. Ways to offset startup costs include finding community backers and government support.
Top Recycling Businesses
- Aluminum
- Paper waste
- E-waste
- Plastic
E-waste recycling is profitable because precious metals like gold and silver can be extracted, having high content levels in discarded electronics.
While recycling provides environmental benefits like reducing landfill waste, profits can be generated. By 2020, the US recycling industry is worth an estimated $139 billion. With waste becoming abundant, recycling promotes business success and sustainability.
Factors like location, size and zoning regulations significantly impact the cost. Acquiring land and buildings can range from $500,000 to $2 million.
Transportation vehicles play a crucial role, collecting recyclables. Costs vary depending on vehicle type and size, ranging $100,000 to $500,000.
Sorting recycled materials manually maximizes profit for smaller recycling companies. Steps to start a PET bottle recycling business include: research the market, make a business plan, contact NGOs to help collect plastics.
Building a plastic recycling plant costs $20-$30 million. More automation is being used than before. Steps to start a plant: Select a site, acquire equipment, obtain financing and permits.
E-waste recycling reuses discarded electronics. Every year, 44.7 million tons of e-waste contains up to $65 billion in raw materials.
Cardboard recycling earns $50 profit per ton. Paper earns $5 per ton. It’s cheaper than landfilling or incinerating trash, which can cost $50-$75 per ton.
Consider tyre recycling. Requirements: tire processing equipment, site permits and financing. Profit margins can be significant. India’s recycling market is growing quickly.
Cost of Recycling Facilities
What is the cost of bottle recycling plant?