The price of natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bales surpassed 61 cents per pound for the first time. Meanwhile, the average mixed-paper price notched upward by several dollars.
Natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is now at a national average 61.63 cents per pound, compared with 55.13 cents last month and 46.38 cents one year ago. This month’s price represents an all-time high, surpassing the previous average high of 60.28 cents set in January 2020.
The national average price of color HDPE also increased over the past month. It is now trading at 14.59 cents per pound, compared with 8.63 cents last month, representing a boost of 69 percent. Some regions are paying as much as 18.50 cents for the plastic.
Mixed paper (PS 54) is up as well. It is now at an average price of $23 per ton, compared with $18 per ton last month.
The national average price for corrugated containers (PS 11) is down marginally this month, at an average $59 per ton, compared to $60 per ton last month. The OCC grade was trading for around $27 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are up again this month, now averaging $40 per ton, compared with $38 per ton last month and $10 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers (PS 37) dropped again and are now trading at $86 per ton, compared with an average of $91 per ton last month.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans remains unchanged this month, at 45.75 cents per pound. This grade traded at 51.56 cents one year ago.
Sorted, baled steel cans also remain unchanged this month at $78.44 per ton. They were averaging $94.69 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of PET beverage bottles and jars dropped slightly again this month. The price is currently at 6.17 cents per pound, compared with 6.50 cents per pound this time last month. This compares with 9.80 cents per pound one year ago.
The price of polypropylene moved up slightly and is now at 5.38 cents per pound, compared with 5.25 cents last month and 8.75 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is up 5 percent. It is now at 8.38 cents, compared with 8.00 cents per pound last month.
Grade B film is now at 3.38 cents per pound, compared to 3.50 cents last month.
Grade C film remains unchanged at 1.06 cents.
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.
