PET bales for recycling. | Lipik Stock Media/Shutterstock
Prices for PET, HDPE and PP bales saw significant drops again this month, while film grades edged lower.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars took a major drop again for August, now averaging 5.75 cents per pound, compared to 10.22 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are now yielding in the 4-7 cent range. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 18.25 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs dropped again this month, now at an average 47.89 cents per pound. This compares to 58.50 cents last month and 43.50 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE also dropped this month, from 3.56 cents, to an average 2.56 cents per pound. This compares to 8.94 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP dropped marginally this month, now at 5.81 cents per pound, compared to 6.13 cents last month. PP was 7.31 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film dropped this month from 19.06 cents per pound to 18.31 cents. This grade traded at 18.25 cents one year ago. Grade B film also dropped from 8.31 to 5.50 cents. Grade C film remains a nominal 0.38 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 [email protected] or call 330-956-8911.