Over the past month, the market value for certain fiber grades has stabilized after a period of significant decline.
The current national average of old corrugated containers (PS 11) is up 3 percent over last month, recovering from a low of $103.44 early October to the current average of $106.88 per ton. This still represents a dramatic drop of 41 percent over the past four months – OCC was trading nationally at $180.00 per ton in July 2017. In March 2015, this grade was trading nationally in the $81.00-per-ton range.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56, formerly PS 8 News) remained steady over the past month and is now trading at a national average of $55.63 per ton. This still represents a 47 percent drop over the past three months. It was trading at an average of $104.38 per ton late August. Historically, this is still lower than June 2016 levels, when this grade was trading nationally at a comparative $58.44 per ton.
The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars continues to drop, currently trading at 14.09 cents per pound. This represents a further 7 percent drop since Oct. 6, when the median average was 15.19 cents per pound. One year ago, this common curbside grade was trading at 10.09 cents per pound.
Post-consumer film prices continue to drop. The national average for Grade A film is currently 11.94 cents per pound, down 4 percent from last month’s national median price of 12.38 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading in the 17.00-cents-per-pound range. Grade C film has dropped 29 percent over the last month, from 1.94 cents per pound to a current low of 1.38 cents per pound.
Meanwhile, HDPE grades remain steady, moving up 1 percent over the past month. The current national average for post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is now at 30.13 cents per pound, up from last month’s median 29.94 cents per pound. Color HDPE has risen by 9 percent to 16.97 cents per pound. In early October, it was at 15.47 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.
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.
