Major curbside plastic grades saw across-the-board price increases in March while all fiber pricing held steady, according to the latest national average commodity values.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs moved up again, now over a dollar, to an average 100.01 cents per pound. This compares to 90.88 cents this time last month and 29.81 cents last year.
The national average price of color HDPE also moved up dramatically this month, nearly doubling from 5.81 cents to an average 10.75 cents per pound. This compares to 19.69 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is up marginally this month, now averaging 17.13 cents per pound compared to 16.36 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding in the range of 17-19 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 12.81 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer PP also moved this month, from 13.25 cents per pound to the current 18.84 cents. Polypropylene was 4.88 cents one year ago.
The national average price for old corrugated containers, PS 11, remains in the same range, at an average $76-77 per ton. OCC averaged $105 per ton one year ago.
Mixed paper, PS 54, remains in the range of $42-43 per ton. This compares to $63 per ton this time last year.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, remain steady in the $60 per ton range. This compares to $77 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, saw a slight increase, going from $127 to $131 per ton. This grade was at $138 this time last year.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans moved up, from 86.88 cents to 91.88 cents per pound. UBCs were at 65.69 cents per pound this time last year.
The national average price of Grade A film remains firm at 19.06 cents per pound. This grade traded at 15.06 cents one year ago.
Grade B film remains unchanged at 7.81 cents per pound.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.38 cents per pound.
Sorted, baled steel cans are up marginally by another $5 per ton, from an average $179 to the current $184 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $215 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.
