OCC prices increased for the 14th consecutive month in February, reaching a high they haven’t hit since summer 2022. Prices for other curbside fiber and plastic grades also either increased or remained steady.
The national average price for corrugated containers (PS 11) continues to move up, from $87 in January to $94 per ton this month. This compares to $32 per ton this time last year.
Mixed paper (PS 54) is also up $8, now at $56 per ton. This compares to $1 per ton this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is up marginally again this month, now averaging 12.25 cents per pound, compared to 11.47 cents per pound this time last month. Some regional contracts are still yielding 13-15 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 13.16 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is up marginally, now at an average 29.38 cents per pound. This compares to 28.50 cents last month and 62.03 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE remains steady this month, now at an average 18.63 cents per pound. It was 9.27 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer polypropylene (PP) remains level, now at 4.88 cents per pound. PP was 5.38 cents one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans (UBCs) remains unchanged, at 61 cents per pound. It was 75 cents per pound this time last year.
The price of sorted, baled steel cans remains constant, in the $214 per ton range. The price was $176 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) are up again by $8, now in the $69 per ton range, compared to $25 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers (PS 37) are up $6, now at $138 per ton. This compares to an average $216 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film remains steady at 14.19 cents per pound. It traded at 15.63 cents one year ago.
Grade B film remains unchanged at 6.88 cents per pound.
Grade C film remains at a nominal 0.13 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 (http://www.recyclingmarkets.net). You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at [email protected] or call 330-956-8911.