Over the past month, market prices for curbside paper grades have dropped significantly. Post-consumer plastic prices, meanwhile, have only seen slight declines.
The national average of Sorted Residential Papers (PS 56, formerly PS 8 News) has dropped 29 percent over the past month, from $78.13 per ton early September, to the current $55.63 per ton. This also represents an 47 percent drop over the past two months – the grade was trading at an average of $104.38 a ton late August.
The current Sorted Residential price represents a return to June 2016 levels, when this grade was trading nationally at $58.44 per ton.
Also over the past month, the national average of Old Corrugated (PS 11) has dropped 33 percent, from $155.31 early September to the current average of $103.44 per ton. This represents a drop of 41 percent from early August when OCC was trading nationally at $174.06 per ton.
A year ago price levels for OCC were comparable to current levels — in early October 2016, the OCC national average was $105.31 per ton. In March 2015, this grade was trading nationally in the $81.00 per ton range, 27 percent lower than this month.
PET bottle price drops 2 percent
Despite recent climate and market conditions, the current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars remains somewhat steady, currently trading at 15.21 cents per pound. This represents a 2 percent drop since early September, when the median average was 15.58 cents per pound.
One year ago, this common curbside grade was trading 54 percent lower, at 9.87 cents per pound.
Post-consumer film prices continue to drop. The national average for Grade A film is currently 12.38 cents per pound, 12 percent lower than last month’s national median price of 14.00 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading in the 17.00 cents per pound range.
HDPE grades remain steady. The current national average for post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is now 29.94 cents per pound, a 1 percent drop over last month.
Color HDPE has risen 1 percent since early September to 15.47 cents per pound. Color HDPE was trading at an average of 21.94 cents per pound nationally seven months ago.
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.
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 330-956-8911.
