After a long runup, natural and colored HDPE grades saw sharp decreases in value once again in May, joined by drops in PET and PP prices. Mixed paper also declined slightly, while OCC remained steady.
The national average price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene, HDPE, from curbside collection programs dropped below a dollar this month, now at an average 88.56 cents per pound. This compares to 101.69 cents last month and 32.44 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE also dropped significantly this month, from 9.44 cents to an average 4.31 cents per pound. This compares to 23.94 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is showing signs of dropping this month, now averaging 16.22 cents per pound, compared to 16.82 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are yielding in the 16-19 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 15.09 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer PP dropped this month, now at 13.13 cents per pound, compared to 18.53 cents last month. PP was 6 cents one year ago.
Mixed paper, PS 54, also dropped $4 to the $40 per ton range. This compares to $68 per ton this time last year.
The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, remains in the same range, at an average $78 per ton. OCC averaged $105 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 17.63 cents one year ago.
Grade B film remains steady at 8.31 cents.
Grade C film is at a nominal 0.38 cents per pound.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum cans remains steady at 91.88 cents per pound. It was 69.81 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans dropped from an average $194 per ton to the current $188 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $215 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers, PS 56, dropped $4, now in the $58 per ton range. This compares to $82 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers, PS 37, remain in the $132 per ton range. This grade was $126 this time last year.
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.