Average OCC prices climbed higher than $100 per ton this month, levels not seen in a year and a half. Other fiber grades, and most curbside plastic materials, also continued to trend higher.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, is up to $105 per ton this month, an increase of 12% over its February average of $94. This compares to $32 per ton this time last year.
Mixed paper, PS 54, is also up $7, now at $63 per ton. This compares to $5 per ton this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars moved up again this month, now averaging 12.81 cents per pound, compared to 12.25 cents per pound this time last month. Some regional contracts are still yielding 13-16 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 13.94 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is up marginally, now at an average 29.81 cents per pound. This compares to 29.38 cents for HDPE last month and 68.22 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE is up this month, now at an average 19.69 cents per pound. This compares to 18.63 cents last month and 13.44 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains unchanged, now at 4.88 cents per pound. PP was 8.13 cents one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled UBCs moved up, now at 65.69 cents per pound, compared to 61.25 last month. Aluminum cans were 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 $191 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, are up again by $8, now in the $77 per ton range. This compares to $25 per ton one year ago.
The price of sorted office papers, PS 37, remains steady at $138 per ton. This compares to an average $203 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is up marginally, now at 15.06 cents per pound. It traded at 14.19 cents last month, and 16.94 cents one year ago.
Grade B film is now at 7.13 cents per pound, up from 6.88 last month.
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.