Markets for curbside PET and HDPE continue to strengthen, and better prices are starting to be garnered for some recovered fibers.
Over the past month, the national average for corrugated containers (PS 11) has risen 4 percent from $66.88 to the current $69.38 per ton. In July 2017, OCC was trading in the $180-per-ton range. In January 2018, this grade was on a downward trend, at $106 per ton.
Over the past month, the national average of sorted residential papers (PS 56) has moved up significantly, from a low of $6 per ton to the current $31 per ton. In April 2017, this grade traded in the $104-per-ton range. Mixed paper (PS 54) remains in the doldrums at an all-time average low of $0 per ton, down from $75 in August 2017.
The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars continues on an upward trend, edging up 4 percent over the past month. It is now at 16.98 cents per pound. This represents an increase of 23 percent over the past six months – it traded nationally at 13.77 cents per pound in January 2018. This also surpasses the national average of 15.70 cents per pound in September 2017.
Post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs continues to move upward, with a 3 percent increase over the past month. The current national average price is 38.81 cents per pound, 47 percent higher than one year ago, when it was trading at 26.41 cents per pound in early June 2017.
Meanwhile, the national average price of color HDPE also increased 3 percent over the past month, now reaching 14.63 cents per pound. Early January 2018, this grade traded at 15.13 cents per pound.
Over the past month, the national average of post-consumer PP moved up 6 percent, from 9.81 cents per pound to the current 10.38 cents per pound. In January 2018, this grade traded at 8.38 cent per pound. One year ago, the price hovered in the 7-cents-per-pound range.
The national average price of post-consumer Grade A film remains constant at 11.72 cents per pound. Grade B film is still trading at 3.74 cents per pound while Grade C film is trading at 1.44 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 cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or 330-956-8911.
