Mixed paper and OCC sank by 21% and 16%, respectively, this month, marking a pivot from a long runup that plateaued over the summer. Curbside plastic price trends varied by grade.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, dropped from $102 in September to an average $86 per ton. It’s a significant one-month decline but brings OCC closer to its year-on-year price: OCC was trading for $73 per ton this time last year and $40 per ton in October 2022.
Mixed paper, PS 54, dropped $15, from $70 to $55 per ton. This compares to $14 per ton this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars dropped marginally this month, now averaging 17.59 cents per pound, compared to 18.34 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding 19-20 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 8.95 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is up 11%, now at an average 49.63 cents per pound. This compares to 44.13 cents last month and 25.25 cents this time last year.
However, the national average price of color HDPE dropped this month and is now at an average 8.56 cents per pound, compared to 9.31 cents last month and 13.56 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP is up 33%, now at 9.75 cents per pound, compared to 7.31 cents last month. PP was at 5 cents per pound one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled UBCs is up marginally, now trading at 78.75 cents per pound. Aluminum cans were 62 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans are now trading in the $160 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $211 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, dropped from $85 to around $71 per ton. This compares to $42 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remain around $123 per ton. This compares to an average $132 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film remains steady, at 18.13 cents per pound. It traded at 13.88 cents one year ago.
Grade B film also remains steady at 7.94 cents.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.63 cents per pound.
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.