The early summer weather accompanied mostly sunny news for MRF operators in June, as curbside material values remained steady or saw slight increases this month. But a key exception was color HDPE, which plummeted 10% from its May value.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, is up marginally by $2 per ton compared to last month, now at an average $108 per ton. This marks the 18th straight month of either stable or increasing OCC prices. OCC was trading at $48 per ton this time last year.
Mixed paper, PS 54, is also up $2, now at $70 per ton. This compares to $14 per ton this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars moved up marginally again this month, now averaging 15.91 cents per pound, compared to 15.09 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding 16-18 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 12.63 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is up again this month, now at an average 33.88 cents per pound. This compares to 32.44 cents last month and 68.75 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE dropped 10% this month to an average 20.00 cents per pound. This compares to 23.94 cents last month and 12.88 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains steady this month at 6.50 cents per pound. PP was 7.69 cents one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled UBCs is now 75.94 cents per pound, compared to 69.81 last month. Aluminum cans were 66.25 cents per pound this time last year.
The national average price of Grade A film is steady, now at 18.06 cents per pound. It traded at 17.63 cents last month and 17.81 cents one year ago.
Grade B film remains unchanged at 7.50 cents.
Grade C film is a nominal 0.13 cents per pound.
Sorted, baled steel cans are trading downward, now at $195 per ton range compared to $214 per ton last month. Steel cans averaged $226 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, are up $2, now in the $84 per ton range. This compares to $25 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remain unchanged at $126 per ton. This compares to an average $158 per ton one year ago.
These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing 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, recyclingmarkets.net. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or call 330-956-8911.
