A policy expert offers best practices for designing EPR for packaging. | Marina Onokhina/Shutterstock
July has seen sweeping drops in the value of PET, HDPE and PP, according to the latest pricing survey.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars plummeted 30% this month and is now trading at an average of 26.16 cents per pound. That compares to 37.50 cents per pound this time last month. Some regions are still trading as high as 35.00 cents per pound for spot loads, but others are offering as low as 15.00 cents. PET was trading at 23.55 cents one year ago.
The price of natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is also down by double-digit figures. Natural HDPE is selling for an average of 46.75 cents per pound, a 17% reduction from 56.19 cents last month. The price was 106.34 cents this time last year.
Color HDPE is down even more, having declined by 25%. This grade is now trading at 22.03 cents per pound. It was 29.28 cents this time last month. It averaged 56.78 cents one year ago.
The national average for polypropylene is down 27%, trading at 24.94 cents per pound. It was 34.13 cents last month and 39.22 cents one year ago.
Lastly, film prices have also been more consistent lately.
The national average for Grade A film is now at 22.56 cents per pound, compared to 22.94 last month and 18.81 cents one year ago.
Grade B film is still 8.19 cents, compared to 7.50 one year ago.
Grade C film is still averaging 1.13 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 [email protected] or 330-956-8911.
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Prices for bales of post-consumer PET bottles have fallen by over 5% since mid-May.
The leader of the Association of Plastic Recyclers responds to a recent op-ed by The Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics. | Courtesy of Herbold Meckesheim
Prices for bales of post-consumer film have experienced notable increases this month, but PET, HDPE and PP container prices are relatively flat.
All grades of commonly sorted curbside plastic experienced substantial price increases this month.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars moved up by 17% this month. The per-pound price is now averaging 39.22 cents, compared with 33.42 cents per pound this time last month. Some regions are trading as high as 49.00 cents per pound. PET was trading at 12.03 cents one year ago.
Natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is up 13%, now at an average 53.72 cents per pound. This compares with 47.47 cents last month. The price was 83.72 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE is up 12%, now trading at 28.94 cents per pound, compared with 25.75 cents last month. This grade averaged 31.94 cents one year ago.
Polypropylene (PP) is also selling for more money this month. The price is averaging 34.56 cents per pound, up 17% from last month’s average of 29.44 cents per pound. PP was 29.69 cents one year ago.
A couple of film grades are also experiencing rising values this month. The national average price of Grade A film is up 3%, at 21.13 cents per pound. This grade was trading at 15.63 cents one year ago.
Grade B film is now 7.44 cents, compared with 5.63 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 [email protected] or 330-956-8911.
