The current national average price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is 51.75 cents per pound, compared with 46.38 cents this time last month. In some areas, natural HDPE is trading as high as 57.00 cents per pound, a decade high. The last similar high was in September 2014, when it reached a national average of 52.69 cents per pound.
The rise comes after the price skyrocketed between September and October, more than doubling in some places.
For comparison, one year ago, the national average for natural HDPE was 38.81 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars dropped marginally again, from 9.80 cents per pound this time last month to the current average trading price of 9.45 cents per pound. This time last year, PET was trading much higher, at an average 15.17 cents per pound.
The national average price of color HDPE is also up 11%, now trading at 14.56 cents per pound, compared with 13.06 cents per pound last month. One year ago, this grade was trading at 15.78 cents per pound. Five years ago, it reached the 30-cents-per-pound level.
The national average price of polypropylene materials dropped again this month, from 8.75 cents per pound to the current 7.06 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading at 10.31 cents per pound.
The national average price of Grade A film is up slightly over last month, now trading at 8.75 cents per pound. By comparison, this grade traded at 8.75 cents per pound one year ago. Grades B and C film remain unchanged.
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 330-956-8911.
A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on Nov. 12.
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