For a complimentary copy of the directory, please contact the Recycling Market Development Program, Energy Policy Division . This means that the value of each material is dependent on national, international and local fluctuations in price and market availability. This year, prices for many materials were impacted by the 1998 Asian and Russian economic crises, which caused demand to decrease for some materials and created a flood of imports in others. This also lowered petroleum prices and caused a short downturn in the U.S. stock market that reduced U.S. consumption for some materials. By the latter part of FY 1998-99, most markets were either stable or on a slight upswing, buoyed by a continually strong national economy, increasing petroleum prices and some stabilization in the international arena.
Most market prices remain at fairly stable lows.
The steel and metal industries were hardest hit this year, with plastics also experiencing significant lows.