Over the past month, recovered PET and film values have fallen, but HDPE grades have seen slight increases.
The current national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars continues to drop, currently trading at 14.09 cents per pound. This represents a 7 percent drop since Oct. 6, when the median average was 15.19 cents per pound. One year ago, this common curbside grade was trading at 10.09 cents per pound.
Post-consumer film prices continue to decline, as well. The national average for Grade A film is currently 11.94 cents per pound, down 4 percent from last month’s national median price of 12.38 cents per pound. One year ago, this grade was trading in the 17.00-cents-per-pound range. Grade C film has dropped 29 percent, from 1.94 cents per pound to a current low of 1.38 cents per pound.
Meanwhile, HDPE grades remain steady. The current national average for post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is now at 30.13 cents per pound, up slightly from last month’s median 29.94 cents per pound. Color HDPE has risen by 9 percent to 16.97 cents per pound. In early October, it was at 15.47 cents per pound.
These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) 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 the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Online Post-Consumer Plastics Pricing Index, visit the Recycling Markets website. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at cmb@recyclingmarkets.net or 330-956-8911.
