Over the past month, recovered PET and film values have fallen, but HDPE grades have seen slight increases.
The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars continues to drop, currently trading at 14.09 cents per pound. This represents a 7 percent drop since Oct. 6, when the median average was 15.19 cents per pound. One year ago, this common curbside grade was trading at 10.09 cents per pound.
Post-consumer film prices continue to decline, as well. The national average for Grade A film is currently 11.94 cents per pound, down 4 percent from last month’s national median price of 12.38 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading in the 17.00-cents-per-pound range. Grade C film has dropped 29 percent, from 1.94 cents per pound to a current low of 1.38 cents per pound.
Meanwhile, HDPE grades remain steady. The current national average for post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is now at 30.13 cents per pound, up slightly from last month’s median 29.94 cents per pound. Color HDPE has risen by 9 percent to 16.97 cents per pound. In early October, it was at 15.47 cents per pound.
These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Index. Â 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 the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Online Post-Consumer Plastics Pricing Index, visit the Recycling Markets website. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at [email protected] or 330-956-8911.
