Recovered Paper Prices Show Signs of Rebound

Fastmarkets RISI reports OCC price increases, Sonoco raises recycled paperboard prices

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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After a downward trend in the second half of 2025, prices for old corrugated containers (OCC) and other recovered paper grades appear to be enjoying upward momentum in the United States. Pricing service Fastmarkets RISI has reported $1 to $5 per ton price increases for OCC in parts of the U.S., citing seasonally slowed generation and transportation challenges. Recycled-content paperboard producer Sonoco Products Co. is also implementing a $70 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the U.S. and Canada, effective April 3, 2026.

Why it matters

The recovery in recovered paper prices, including OCC, is a positive sign for the recycling industry, which faced challenges in the second half of 2025. Higher prices can help offset rising costs for collectors and processors, and may encourage greater recycling participation. Sonoco's price increase also reflects tightening market conditions and inflationary pressures in the recycled paperboard sector.

The details

Fastmarkets RISI reported $1 to $5 per ton price increases for OCC in early March, citing seasonally slowed generation and transportation challenges that have restricted materials collection and movement in some regions. Sonoco Products Co. is implementing a $70 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the U.S. and Canada, effective April 3, 2026, due to tightening market conditions, increased mill utilization rates, and inflationary input costs.

  • In the first week of March 2026, Fastmarkets RISI reported $1 to $5 per ton price increases for OCC.
  • On April 3, 2026, Sonoco Products Co. will implement a $70 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the U.S. and Canada.

The players

Fastmarkets RISI

A pricing and news service that surveys recovered paper buyers and sellers.

Sonoco Products Co.

A recycled-content paperboard producer based in South Carolina that recorded $7.5 billion in annual sales in 2025 and has approximately 22,000 employees working in 265 operations in 37 countries.

WM Inc.

A Houston-based waste management and recycling company.

Casella Waste Systems

A Vermont-based waste management and recycling company.

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What they’re saying

“The price change is necessitated by tightening market conditions, increased mill utilization rates and inflationary input costs.”

— Taylor Lane, Vice President and General Manager of Sonoco's Industrial Paper Packaging North America business unit (Sonoco Products Co.)

What’s next

Analysts will continue to monitor the recovered paper market for further signs of price stability and potential additional increases in the coming months.

The takeaway

The recovery in recovered paper prices, including OCC, is a positive sign for the recycling industry, which faced challenges in the second half of 2025. Higher prices can help offset rising costs for collectors and processors, and may encourage greater recycling participation. However, the industry still faces inflationary pressures and tightening market conditions that are driving price increases for recycled paperboard products.