Our monthly look at values for common post-consumer materials shows steadiness in recovered PET, HDPE and film grades.
The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles remained steady over the past month, currently trading at 15.72 cents per pound. One month ago, this common grade was trading at 15.48 cents per pound. By comparison, the national average price was 29 percent lower one year ago, trading at 11.20 cents per pound.
Meanwhile, the national average price of post-consumer color high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs has risen slightly over the past month, from 13.00 cents per pound, to the current 13.31 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading 35 percent higher, at 17.94 cents per pound.
Post-consumer film grades also remain steady. The national average for Grade A Film is 16.88 cents per pound, Grade B Film is at 8.06 cents per pound, and Grade C Film is trading at an average of 2.50 cents per pound.
These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Index. This pricing represents what is being paid for post-consumer recyclable materials in a sorted, baled format, picked up at most major recycling centers.
For a free trial to SMP’s Online Post-Consumer Pricing Index, visit the Recycling Markets website. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or call 330-956-8911.
