The national average price for baled aluminum cans dropped 11 percent over the past month, from 75 cents per pound to the current average level of 67 cents per pound. This is a return to levels of 68 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average for corrugated containers (PS 11) remains constant, still trading in the $71-per-ton range. This compares to $103 per ton one year ago.
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The national average of sorted residential papers (PS 56) remains unchanged, at $31 per ton. Mixed paper (PS 54) is now trading at a nominal average low of $3 per ton, still down from $31 per ton one year ago.
The average price of high-grade papers remains strong. Sorted office paper (PS-37) is trading nationally in the $210-per-ton range, while white envelope cuttings (PS 31) have reached the $420-per-ton level in most regions.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars dropped slightly over the past month, currently at 15.58 cents per pound. This represents a 4 percent decrease over the past 30 days. It traded nationally at 16.19 cents per pound mid-September. This also represents a return to September 2017 levels, when the national average trading price was 15.58 cents per pound on Sept. 5, 2017.
The price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs remained constant over the past month at 38.25 cents per pound. This represents a significant increase over the past year. This grade traded at 29.94 cents per pound on Oct. 20, 2017.
Meanwhile, the national average price of color HDPE is up 4 percent over the past month, from 13.69 cents per pound to the current 14.22 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade traded much higher, at 16.97 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer Grade A film dropped 3 percent over the past month, now trading at 9.06 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading much higher, at 12.38 cents per pound. Meanwhile, the lower film grades remain unchanged, with Grade B film still trading at 2.63 cents per pound and Grade C film at a nominal 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.
