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.

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,...

In more evidence of a market shift, OCC and mixed paper are both fetching lower prices than they were last month, reversing the upward trend of the past couple years. But both fiber grades are still trading at or above their values a year ago. The national average price for corrugated containers, PS 11, dropped from $86 per ton last...

Prices for curbside plastics bales saw varying trends for October, with PP and natural HDPE rising 33% and 11%, respectively, but PET and color HDPE seeing modest declines.

Mixed paper and OCC sank by 21% and 16%, respectively, this month, marking a pivot from a long runup that plateaued over the summer. Curbside plastic price trends varied by grade.

Prices for color HDPE have leveled out after a significant drop in price over the summer, inching up slightly in September. Other resins saw slight increases as well this month.

Prices for major fiber grades were either steady or dipped marginally this month, while color HDPE began to inch higher following a 40% price crash over the summer.

Natural HDPE prices ticked up more than 20% over the past month, but color HDPE lost nearly half its value.

Prices for all major curbside paper commodities held firm in August, bringing the second straight month without major changes in fiber values. It was a different story on the plastics side, where some grades saw major price fluctuations.

Bales of PET and natural HDPE containers are fetching higher prices, while color HDPE continues to slip downwards in value this month.