Prices for major fiber grades were either steady or dipped marginally this month, while color HDPE began to inch higher following a 40% price crash over the summer.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, dropped marginally in some regions, now at an average $102 per ton compared to $106 per ton last month. OCC was trading for $54 per ton this time last year.
Mixed paper, PS 54, remains unchanged at $70 per ton. This compares to $23 per ton this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars remained steady this month, now averaging 18.34 cents per pound, compared to 18.27 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding 19-21 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 7.41 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is up marginally, at an average 44.13 cents per pound. This compares to 43.06 cents last month and 23.75 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE this month is up marginally, now at an average 9.31 cents per pound, compared to 8.88 cents last month and 9.91 cents one year ago. The slight increase comes after color HDPE tanked 40% month-over-month in August.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains steady, at 7.31 cents per pound. PP was 5 cents one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans, UBCs, is steady at 75.94 cents per pound. It was 65 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, remain steady in the $85 per ton range. This compares to $36 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remain unchanged at $126 per ton. This compares to an average $136 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film remains constant, at 18.25 cents per pound. It traded at 14.75 cents one year ago.
Grade B film remains firm at 7.88 cents.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.63 cents per pound.
Sorted, baled steel cans continue trading in the $153 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $212 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.