PET and PP bale prices jump

February has brought substantial price increases for curbside PET and PP, with both up by double-digit percentages.

The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars moved up again this month, this time by 33%. The price is now averaging 26.88 cents per pound, compared with 20.22 cents per pound this time last month. Some regions are trading as high as 33.00 cents per pound. PET was trading at 8.63 cents one year ago. 

Meanwhile, post-consumer polypropylene is up 19%, now 22.63 cents per pound, compared with 18.94 cents last month. PP was 18.44 cents one year ago.

On the other hand, both HDPE grades have seen prices fall this month.

The national average for natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is down nearly 3%, now at an average 54.56 cents per pound. This compares to 56.13 cents last month. The price was 70.25 cents this time last year.

Color HDPE dropped by 9% and is now trading at 19.50 cents per pound, compared with 21.50 cents last month. This grade averaged 18.91 cents one year ago.

Films have shown no price movement. 

The national average price of Grade A film remains unchanged at 20.50 cents. This grade was trading at 11.13 cents one year ago. 

Grade B film is also unchanged at 7.25 cents, compared with 4.38 one year ago. 

Grade C film is still averaging 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.