Prices for curbside scrap plastics have either crept upward or remained relatively flat this month.
The national average price of PET beverage bottles and jars is now 14.17 cents per pound, compared with 13.94 cents per pound this time last month. Some regions are now trading as high as 17.50 cents per pound. This grade was trading at 33.42 cents one year ago.
Natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs remains firm, now at an average of 68.72 cents per pound. This compares to 68.22 cents last month and 47.47 cents this time last year.
The national average for color HDPE is also up marginally this month. It is now averaging 14.41 cents per pound, compared with 13.44 cents last month and 25.75 cents one year ago.
Polypropylene (PP) is steady. PP is now trading at 8.19 cents per pound, compared to 8.13 cents last month. PP was 29.44 cents one year ago.
The price of Grade A film is up, now at 17.44 cents per pound, compared with 16.94 cents last month and 20.50 cents one year ago.
Grade B film is now 7.81 cents, compared to 7.94 cents last month.
Finally, Grade C film remains at a low 0.50 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 call 330-956-8911.
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