OCC prices have taken a steep drop, but values for some key plastics continue to climb. The national average of most curbside paper grades remains low. Corrugated containers (PS 11) has dropped 23 percent to the current $67 per ton, down from an average price in the $87-per-ton range one month ago. In July 2017, OCC was trading in the...

The pricing slump continues for curbside fibers, but a number of plastics have increased in value. The national average of all curbside paper grades dropped again over the past month. Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are now trading at a national average of $6 per ton as of early May. The national average of mixed paper (PS 54) is now...

In May, a number of key curbside plastics have continued to increase in value. Post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs continues its upward trend. The current national average price is 37.50 cents per pound, up 5.6 percent since March 31. This new level is 42 percent higher than one year ago, when it was trading at 26.41...

Prices continue to climb for PET and HDPE containers collected at the curb, but the news wasn't so good for mixed plastics, which have a negative value in many regions. The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is currently 15.03 cents per pound. This is up 6 percent from last month, when it traded nationally at...

The value of a ton of mixed paper has hit a new low, trading for less than a large latte at Starbucks. But some key curbside plastics have continued their upward pricing trends. The national average of all curbside paper grades remains low. Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are now trading at a national average of $27 per ton as...

Pricing for recovered PET and HDPE packaging has been stronger lately, but bulky rigid and film values have remained flat over the past few months. The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is 14.33 cents per pound. This is up 3 percent from last month, when it traded at 13.89 cents per pound nationally. One...

Mixed-paper has hit an all-time price low, with each ton trading for just $5. Downward pricing has also been seen with other fibers, but plastics have shown increasingly strong values lately. Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are now trading at a national average of $32.50 per ton as of early March. This represents a dramatic 69 percent drop since August...

Prices for natural HDPE bales have increased over the past month, but markets for other recovered plastics have been relatively flat. Mixed-plastic bales continue to trade at record low prices. The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is 13.83 cents per pound. Over the past 12 months, the highest point reached was July 31, when...

Post-consumer curbside material prices have remained steady through January 2018. The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is 13.83 cents per pound. Over the past 12 months, the highest point reached was July 31, when this grade was trading 13 percent higher, at 15.93 cents per pound. By comparison, in February 2017 it was 21...

As we enter 2018, the market for most plastic packaging collected at the curb remains unchanged, although PP prices recently took a jump. The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is 13.77 cents per pound, virtually unchanged since Dec. 6, when it was trading at 13.59 cents per pound. Six months ago, this grade was...