Prices for most major curbside recyclables dropped this month, but a couple outliers were natural HDPE and aluminum beverage cans, both of which saw double-digit percentage increases in value.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs is now at an average 66.19 cents per pound, up 13% from 58.56 cents last month. One year ago, this grade was trading for 29.06 cents.
But the national average price of color HDPE is down again this month, now at an average 5.44 cents per pound compared to 8 cents last month and 18.31 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars dropped this month, now averaging 15.41 cents per pound compared to 17.22 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are now yielding 15-18 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 11.03 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer PP remains steady, now at 9.06 cents per pound, compared to 9.56 cents last month. PP was 4.94 cents one year ago.
All major fiber grades dropped in value this month. The national average price for old corrugated containers, PS 11, dropped from $77 to an average $73 per ton. OCC averaged $80 per ton this time last year.
Mixed paper, PS 54, dropped $4, from $45 to $41 per ton. This compares to $38 per ton this time last year.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remained steady month-over-month at $117 per ton, compared to an average $132 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, remain steady in the $63-per-ton range. This compares to $51 per ton one year ago.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans is up, now trading at 86.88 cents per pound, up from 78.75 last month. It was 61 cents per pound this time last year.
The price for sorted, baled steel cans is up, trading in the $174-per-ton range. Steel cans averaged $210 per ton 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.
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 [email protected] or call 330-956-8911.