PET container prices fell 30% from June to July, part of an across-the-board price decline for curbside plastics bales. Fiber grades remained firm month over month.
The national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars is averaging 10.22 cents per pound, compared to 14.59 cents per pound this time last month. Regional contracts are now yielding around 10-12 cents per pound. One year ago this grade was trading at an average 17.27 cents per pound.
The national average price of post-consumer natural HDPE from curbside collection programs dropped again this month, now at an average 58.50 cents per pound. This compares to 69.44 cents last month and 35.63 cents this time last year.
The national average price of post-consumer color HDPE also dropped this month, from 4.25 cents to an average 3.56 cents per pound. This compares to 14.75 cents one year ago.
The national average price of post-consumer PP dropped again this month, now at 6.13 cents per pound, compared to 8.19 cents last month. PP was 6.50 cents one year ago.
The national average price of Grade A film is steady at 19.06 cents per pound. This grade traded at 18.06 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 old corrugated containers (PS 11) remains steady, in the $70 per ton range. OCC averaged $108 per ton one year ago.
Mixed paper (PS 54) dropped $3, now in the $36 per ton range. This compares to $70 per ton this time last year.
Sorted residential papers (PS 56) remain in the $55-56 per ton range. This compares to $84 per ton one year ago.
Sorted office papers (PS 37) remain in the $130 per ton range. This grade was $126 this time last year.
The national average price for sorted, baled aluminum used beverage cans (UBCs) remains steady at 83.75 cents per pound. It was 75.94 cents per pound this time last year.
Sorted, baled steel cans also remain steady in the $168 per ton range. Steel cans averaged $155 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.
