Curbside plastic grades either jumped up significantly in price or remained steady at the beginning of 2025.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs moved up 24%, now at an average 82.38 cents per pound. This compares to 66.19 cents in December and 28.50 cents this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars moved up this month to average 16.44 cents per pound, compared to 15.41 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are now again yielding in the range of 17-19 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 11.47 cents per pound.
The national average price of color HDPE remains steady this month at an average 5.44 cents per pound, compared to 18.81 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains unchanged this month at 9.06 cents per pound. PP was 4.94 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is unchanged at 18.13 cents per pound. It traded at 13.88 cents one year ago.
Grade B film is up marginally, rising from 7.63 to 7.75 cents.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.63 cents per pound.
These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing 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, recyclingmarkets.net. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or call 330-956-8911.
