Already pummeled fiber prices have continued to fall further, with OCC now trading at around $32 per ton.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) continues to drop, now trading in the $16-per-ton range, compared with $18 per ton last month. This common grade was trading at a low $6 per ton this time last year, compared with a high of $103 per ton in March 2017.
The national average for corrugated containers (PS 11) dropped another $10 per ton over the past month, from an average $42 per ton in April to the current range of $32 per ton. This compares with the $87 average one year ago.
Mixed paper (PS 54) continues to trade at a national average low of negative $2 per ton.
High grades are also lower, with sorted office paper (PS 37) dropping from $162 per ton to the current level of $139 per ton.
The lower fiber prices are a continuation of declines seen in April, March and February, according to RecyclingMarkets.net.
The national average price for baled aluminum cans remains constant, trading in the range of 56 cents per pound. One year ago, this common grade traded around 76 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars remained constant over the past month, still at 15.54 cents per pound. This time last year, PET was trading at an equivalent level of 15.89 cents per pound.
The price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs continues to drop. The current national average price is 20.84 cents per pound, compared with 21.88 cents this time last month. One year ago, the national average for this grade was 37.50 cents per pound. The current low price range remains the lowest since February 2016, when average national prices were around 22 cents per pound. By comparison, highs of 52.69 cents per pound occurred in October 2014.
Meanwhile, the national average price of color HDPE remained constant over the past month, now trading at 13.75 cents per pound. Last month, the national average was 13.56 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading at 15.94 cents per pound.
The national average price of HDPE rigid materials dropped drastically over the past month, now trading at 4.52 cents per pound, compared with 7.44 cents per pound in mid-April. One year ago, this material traded nationally at 10.06 cents per pound.
The national average price of Grade A film is up again this past month, now trading in the range of 12.81 cents per pound, compared with 9.81 cents per pound last month. This grade traded at 11.72 cents per pound one year ago.
Grade B film is also trading up at 4.25 cents per pound, compared with 3.13 cents per pound last month.
Grade C film is still trading at a nominal 1.38 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.
