In more evidence of a market shift, OCC and mixed paper are both fetching lower prices than they were last month, reversing the upward trend of the past couple years. But both fiber grades are still trading at or above their values a year ago.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, dropped from $86 per ton last month to an average of $77 per ton. While it marks a decrease from October, it means OCC values are exactly where they were one year ago. OCC prices had been steadily increasing since the end of 2022, marching upward to a peak of $108 per ton in June and July 2024, before plateauing and then sinking over the past couple months.
Mixed paper, PS 54, dropped $10, from $55 to $45 per ton. This compares to $33 per ton this time last year.
Elsewhere in the fiber space, sorted residential papers, PS 56, dropped again, from $71 to an average of $63 per ton. This compares to $46 per ton one year ago. Sorted office papers, PS 37, dropped $6 per ton, from $123 to $117, compared to an average of $131 per ton one year ago.
On the plastics side, the national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars remained steady this month, now averaging 17.22 cents per pound, compared to 17.59 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding 18-20 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at 10 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene, HDPE, from curbside collection programs is up 18%, now at an average 58.66 cents per pound. This compares to 49.63 cents last month and 26.97 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE is down again this month, now at an average 8.00 cents per pound, compared to 8.56 cents last month and 16.31 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains steady, now at 9.56 cents per pound, compared to 9.75 cents last month. PP was at 5 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is unchanged, at 18.13 cents per pound. It traded at 13.88 cents one year ago. Grade B film also remains steady at 7.63 cents. Grade C film is at a nominal 0.63 cents per pound.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum used beverage cans remains steady, trading at 78.75 cents per pound. UBCs were 61 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans are still trading in the $160 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $210 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.
