Prices for PET, HDPE and PP bales saw significant drops again this month, with paper grades, plastic film and UBCs also marginally lower.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars took a major drop again for August, now averaging 5.75 cents per pound, compared to 10.22 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are now yielding in the 4-7 cent range. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 18.25 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs dropped again this month, now at an average 47.89 cents per pound. This compares to 58.50 cents last month and 43.50 cents this time last year.
The national average price of color HDPE also dropped this month, from 3.56 cents, to an average 2.56 cents per pound. This compares to 8.94 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP dropped marginally this month, now at 5.81 cents per pound, compared to 6.13 cents last month. PP was 7.31 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film dropped this month from 19.06 cents per pound to 18.31 cents. This grade traded at 18.25 cents one year ago. Grade B film also dropped from 8.31 to 5.50 cents. Grade C film remains a nominal 0.38 cents per pound.
The national average price for sorted, baled used beverage containers (UBCs) dropped from 83.75 cents to 78.44 cents per pound. It was 75.94 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans also dropped from an average $168 to $158 per ton. Steel cans averaged $152 per ton one year ago.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) dropped $3 to the current $52-53 per ton range. This compares to $85 per ton one year ago. Mixed paper (PS 54) also dropped $3, from $36 to the $32 per ton range. This compares to $70 per ton this time last year. Sorted office papers (PS 37) remain in the $128 per ton range. This grade was $126 this time last year.
The national average price for old corrugated containers (PS 11) dropped marginally, from $70 per ton to the current $67-68 per ton. OCC averaged $106 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.
