Although natural HDPE continued its recent price runup, other curbside plastic grades were flat or fell marginally in value over the past month. Major fiber grades are flat for the second month in a row.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs remains over a dollar, at an average 101.69 cents per pound. This compares to 100.01 cents last month and 30.63 cents this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is down marginally this month, now averaging 16.82 cents per pound compared to 17.13 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are still yielding 17-19 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 14.22 cents per pound.
The national average price of color HDPE also dropped marginally this month, from 10.75 cents, to an average 9.44 cents per pound. This compares to 20.50 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer polypropylene remains steady this month, at 18.53 cents per pound, compared to 18.84 cents last month. PP was 5.94 cents one year ago.
On the fiber side, most grades have stayed flat compared to last month. The national average price for old corrugated containers, PS 11, remains steady at an average $78 per ton. OCC averaged $104 per ton one year ago.
Mixed paper, PS 54, remains at an average $44 per ton. This compares to $63 per ton this time last year.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, remain steady at an average $62 per ton. This compares to $77 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remain at an average $132 per ton. This grade was $134 this time last year.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans remains steady at 91.88 cents per pound. UBCs were 65.81 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans are up $10 per ton, from an average $184 last month to the current average of $194 per ton. Steel cans averaged $215 per ton one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film remains firm at 19.06 cents per pound. This grade traded at 16.63 cents one year ago.
Grade B film moved up marginally, from 7.81 cents per pound, to 8.31 cents.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.38 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.
