Multiple recovered fiber grades continued to decline in price over the past month. The same downward trend was seen for PET and HDPE.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) dropped again this month, now trading around $10 per ton, compared with $14 per ton last month. Two years ago, this grade was trading at $104 per ton.
The national average for corrugated containers (PS 11) remained steady over the past month at around $28 per ton, compared with a $70-per-ton average one year ago and $171 per ton in August 2017.
Mixed paper (PS 54) continues to trade at a national average low of negative $2 per ton.
Sorted office paper (PS 37) dropped again this month, from an average $108 per ton to the current level of $101 per ton. This high grade was trading at $166 per ton two years ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans is lower this month. It is now at 54.81 cents per pound. This compares with 55.44 cents per pound one month ago and 75.81 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans are now trading at a low of $121 per ton, compared with $196 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars has dropped from 15.03 cents per pound this time last month to the current average trading price of 13.91 cents per pound. This time last year, PET was trading at an average 16.71 cents per pound.
The price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs dropped slightly this month. The national average price is now 20.34 cents per pound, compared to 20.47 cents this time last month. One year ago, the national average for this grade was 38.81 cents per pound.
Meanwhile, the national average price of color HDPE dropped 11% over the past month, now trading at 10.06 cents per pound. Last month, the national average was 11.28 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading at 14.56 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer polypropylene remains more constant, still trading at 12.38 cents per pound, compared to 12.44 cents per pound last month. One year ago, this grade was trading at 10.38 cents per pound.
The national average price of Grade A film remains level this month, still trading around 9.00 cents per pound. By comparison this grade traded at 8.69 cents per pound one year ago.
Grade B film is currently trading at 4.63 cents per pound.
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.
More stories about markets
- Threatened tariffs could have indirect effect on recycled fiber
- NERC reports small Q3 uptick in commodity values
- Glass collection options shift in Pacific Northwest
