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Prices collapse for bales of recovered plastics

Published: July 13, 2022
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July has seen sweeping drops in the value of PET, HDPE and PP, according to the latest pricing survey.Plastics Recycling Markets

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.

Green Machine
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Circular economy drawing investment interest

Published: May 4, 2022
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Market graph.

Investor interest in waste reduction and recycling is rising steadily, according to an investment manager. | Sittipong Phokawattana/Shutterstock

As aspirations for a circular economy continue to gain traction, some financial index providers are urging investors to take notice of what they call an emerging opportunity.

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Ahead of mandate, beverage brands disclose RPET stats

Published: April 20, 2022
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Bottle return at a reverse vending machine.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on April 14 released 2021 data on virgin and recycled plastic usage in beverage containers covered by the state’s deposit law. | Pazargic Liviu/Shutterstock

This story has been corrected.

Numbers for 2021 show some big beverage brands were ahead of the game when it comes to complying with California’s recycled-content law, including BlueTriton Brands, Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo. Others remained far short of the targets set by the state.

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California’s PCR crunch ‘just the beginning’

Published: April 20, 2022
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Empty PET bottles for recycling.

To meet California’s 15% PCR rate by 2022, U.S. reclaimers need an aggregate additional output of 800,000 tons of food-grade post-consumer PET and PE.  | monticello/Shutterstock

A report from Independent Commodity Intelligence Services found that there’s not enough post-consumer resin in the U.S. market to meet California’s mandates, and there are more state mandates coming on-line soon. 

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Prices jump for bales of recovered PET and other resins

Published: April 20, 2022
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Plastics Recycling Markets

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.

 

Sorema Plastics Recycling Systems
Bomet Polymer Solutions
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Analysts say higher PCR prices are the new normal

Published: April 6, 2022
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Markets panel speakers at the 2022 Plastics Recycling Conference

In a session moderated by Roxanne Spiekerman (left), resin markets experts Marcelo Wasem (center) and Joel Morales (right) presented their analysis to attendees at the 2022 Plastics Recycling Conference. | Brian Adams Photo/Resource Recycling, Inc.

Post-consumer HDPE and PP prices have been hot lately, and they’re likely to stay that way given consistently strong demand and relatively slow supply increases, according to one market expert.

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