Prices for recovered plastics increased across the board during the past month, with natural high-density polyethylene bales notching another record.
The price of natural HDPE from curbside collection programs now averages 66.84 cents per pound nationally, another record-high price. This compares with last month’s 63.75 cents, which was also a record, and 59.47 cents one year ago. Some regions are reporting prices currently reaching 72.00 cents per pound.
Prices for PET also moved higher. The national average price of PET beverage bottles and jars moved up 16% this month and is currently at 7.58 cents per pound, compared with 6.55 cents per pound this time last month. One year ago, the price was 9.28 cents per pound.
The national average price of polypropylene surged upward this month and is now at 11.69 cents per pound, compared to 7.00 cents last month and 5.81 cents one year ago.
The national average price of color HDPE is also up again. It is now trading at 17.19 cents per pound, up from 17.06 cents last month. This compares to a low 3.58 cents six months ago, in July 2020.
The national average price of Grade A film is up 15%, now at 10.84 cents, compared with 9.44 cents per pound last month and 8.44 cents per pound this time last year. Grade B film is now 3.63 cents per pound, while Grade C film remains a low 0.81 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.
