How do you calculate net scrap reclaim value?

Multiply scrap weight by the value per pound and by the recoverable percentage as a decimal to get gross value, then subtract the fixed processing cost. For 2,500 lbs at 0.18/lb, 75% recoverable, minus 85 cost, gross is 337.50 and net is 422.50... net reclaim value is 252.50 after the processing offset in this example.

Why is some scrap not recoverable?

Contamination, mixed-material laminates, ink and adhesive content, and moisture all reduce what a recycler will accept. The recoverable percentage captures that; 75% means a quarter of the weight has no resale value.

Should I sell scrap or reclaim it in-house?

Compare the net reclaim value here against the avoided cost of buying virgin material if you grind and reuse it. If in-house reclaim displaces resin worth more than the recycler pays, internal reclaim usually wins despite the processing cost.

What is a typical scrap value per pound?

Clean single-polymer film scrap can fetch a few cents to over 0.20 per pound depending on resin and market; printed, laminated, or contaminated scrap is worth far less or carries a disposal cost. The 0.18/lb default reflects a reasonably clean stream.

How does the fixed processing cost affect the decision?

It is a flat charge for baling, sorting, or handling the batch. In the example an 85 cost reduces gross value, so small or low-value batches can net out near zero, making disposal the rational choice.

How do I improve scrap reclaim value?

Raise the recoverable percentage by segregating clean from contaminated scrap at the source, and reduce processing cost by baling efficiently. Moving recoverable from 75% to 90% on the example would lift gross value meaningfully before the fixed cost.

Industrial Packaging Materials Manufacturing calculator

Packaging Scrap Reclaim Value Calculator

Scrap reclaim value tells a packaging plant what its film, board, or trim scrap is actually worth after baling, sorting, and processing costs are subtracted. Plant managers and cost accountants use it to decide whether to sell scrap to a recycler, run an in-house reclaim grinder, or simply landfill it, and to put a hard dollar figure on waste-reduction projects. Not all generated scrap is recoverable, so the calculator discounts the weight by a recoverable percentage before pricing it, then nets out the fixed cost of handling. The result turns a vague waste stream into a number you can defend in a continuous-improvement review.

What this calculator does

Calculate the recoverable dollar value of packaging scrap (film trim, edge scrap, rejected rolls, off-spec material) to justify regrind systems or negotiate scrap buyback pricing.
Use this when evaluating whether to install an in-line regrind system, negotiating scrap buyback pricing with a recycler, or quantifying the cost offset from reclaiming film trim and edge scrap.
It computes the net dollar value of a scrap batch by pricing only the recoverable portion of the weight and subtracting the fixed processing cost.

Formula used

Gross reclaim value = scrap weight x scrap value per pound x (recoverable percentage / 100)
Net scrap reclaim value = gross reclaim value - fixed processing cost

Inputs explained

Scrap weight generated:
Scrap resale value per pound:
Recoverable percentage:
Fixed processing cost:

How to use the result

Use it when deciding whether to sell, reclaim, or dispose of scrap, and when quantifying the savings from a waste-reduction initiative.
It uses a single fixed processing cost; if your handling cost actually scales with volume, the per-batch economics will differ and you should model variable cost separately.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for plastic resins and materials stands at 319.371 (BLS, May 2026), up 19.5% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The producer price index for paperboard and containers stands at 276.831 (BLS, May 2026), up 8.8% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.

Common questions

How do you calculate net scrap reclaim value? Multiply scrap weight by the value per pound and by the recoverable percentage as a decimal to get gross value, then subtract the fixed processing cost. For 2,500 lbs at 0.18/lb, 75% recoverable, minus 85 cost, gross is 337.50 and net is 422.50... net reclaim value is 252.50 after the processing offset in this example.
Why is some scrap not recoverable? Contamination, mixed-material laminates, ink and adhesive content, and moisture all reduce what a recycler will accept. The recoverable percentage captures that; 75% means a quarter of the weight has no resale value.
Should I sell scrap or reclaim it in-house? Compare the net reclaim value here against the avoided cost of buying virgin material if you grind and reuse it. If in-house reclaim displaces resin worth more than the recycler pays, internal reclaim usually wins despite the processing cost.
What is a typical scrap value per pound? Clean single-polymer film scrap can fetch a few cents to over 0.20 per pound depending on resin and market; printed, laminated, or contaminated scrap is worth far less or carries a disposal cost. The 0.18/lb default reflects a reasonably clean stream.
How does the fixed processing cost affect the decision? It is a flat charge for baling, sorting, or handling the batch. In the example an 85 cost reduces gross value, so small or low-value batches can net out near zero, making disposal the rational choice.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.