Mixed paper, OCC and other fiber grades increased in price this month, with OCC rising to higher than $100 per ton. Plastic price trends are more of a mixed bag.
The national average for corrugated containers (PS 11) surged again this month, now trading at about $107 per ton, compared with $73 per ton last month. That April price was up 62% from the March price.
The OCC grade was trading at around $32 one year ago. The last time OCC traded above the $100-per-ton level was in November 2017, when it also averaged $107 per ton.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are up $10 to $15 per ton and they are now trading in the $20 to $25 range, averaging $23 per ton.
Mixed paper (PS 54) is currently at a national average price of $12 per ton, compared with negative $2 per ton over the past year.
Sorted office papers (PS 37) are trading in the range of $180 to $190 per ton, averaging $184 per ton. That is up from a $132-per-ton average last month.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans is down again this month, now at 39.31 cents per pound, compared with 40.13 cents per pound last month. This compares with 56.44 cents per pound this time last year.
Steel cans dropped again and are now at a national average of $84 per ton, compared with $97 per ton last month and $165 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of PET beverage bottles and jars dropped again this month. The price is currently 7.81 cents per pound, down from 9.25 cents per pound this time last month. This compares with 15.54 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average price of natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) moved up this month and is now at an average 36.00 cents per pound, compared with 34.44 cents this time last month. In some regions, this grade is trading around 40.00 cents per pound, compared with lows of 20.84 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average price of color HDPE dropped again this month, now trading at 3.61 cents per pound, compared with 4.28 cents per pound last month and 13.75 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average price of polypropylene dropped to a low 3.00 cents per pound, compared with 5.69 cents last month and 11.19 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is lower again this month, at 7.56 cents per pound, compared with 8.25 cents a month ago. Grade B film is currently 4.00 cents per pound, compared with 4.25 cents last month. Grade C film remains unchanged at 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 cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or 330-956-8911.
