Natural HDPE crashes from record high

The price of natural high-density polyethylene continues to fall from the high it hit in January. Meanwhile, PET ticked upward over the past month.

The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE is now 37.13 cents per pound, compared with 54.81 cents this time last month. This grade traded at 26.63 cents per pound one year ago. Natural HDPE hit a record high of 59.47 cents per pound in January, but it has been falling since then. 

The price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is currently 10.47 cents per pound, up from 9.91 cents per pound last month. This price compares to 15.02 cents per pound one year ago. Current prices for the new Premium PET grade, which includes bottle bill, deposit and special-sort materials, are in the range of 15.00 to 18.00 cents per pound.

The price of color HDPE also dropped again this month, now trading at 7.38 cents per pound, compared with 8.38 cents per pound last month and 14.47 cents per pound one year ago.

The national average price of polypropylene is now 5.69 cents per pound, compared with 12.81 cents per pound one year ago.

The national average price of Grade A film remains level, at 8.88 cents per pound. Grade B film is currently 4.31 cents per pound, compared to 4.13 cents per pound this time last month. Grade C film remains unchanged at 1.38 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 330-956-8911.