Mixed paper and OCC sank by 21% and 16%, respectively, this month, marking a pivot from a long runup that plateaued over the summer. Curbside plastic price trends varied by grade.

Prices for color HDPE have leveled out after a significant drop in price over the summer, inching up slightly in September. Other resins saw slight increases as well this month.

Prices for major fiber grades were either steady or dipped marginally this month, while color HDPE began to inch higher following a 40% price crash over the summer.

Natural HDPE prices ticked up more than 20% over the past month, but color HDPE lost nearly half its value.

Prices for all major curbside paper commodities held firm in August, bringing the second straight month without major changes in fiber values. It was a different story on the plastics side, where some grades saw major price fluctuations.

Bales of PET and natural HDPE containers are fetching higher prices, while color HDPE continues to slip downwards in value this month.

July brought higher prices for bales of PET and natural HDPE containers, while color HDPE continued to slip downwards in value. On the fiber front, major grades maintained stable pricing after a long runup throughout the year.

Color HDPE dropped 10% in value this month, while other plastic grades remained steady or saw slight increases.

The early summer weather accompanied mostly sunny news for MRF operators in June, as curbside material values remained steady or saw slight increases this month. But a key exception was color HDPE, which plummeted 10% from its May value.

Natural and color HDPE prices rose higher this month, continuing an upward trend that began last fall.