Pricing on mixed, post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate food and beverage containers, post-consumer colored high-density polyethylene and post-consumer mixed paper has moved in recent months.

Post-Consumer PET Prices Slide 58.7 percent

During the past year, the national average price of mixed, post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) food and beverage bottles and jars from curbside collection programs has dropped by more than 58 percent.  

In April, 2014 the national average trading price was in the 21.9 cents per pound range. That price level dropped slightly by 15 percent to an average 19 cents through the summer months, and gradually down to 18.6 cents per pound in the fall months.

By January 2015, the price had dropped another 27.5 percent to 14.9 cents per pound.  Finally, the price reached an average current low of 13.8 cents per pound, representing an overall one-year drop of 58.7 per cent (see graph).

These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Index. This pricing represents what is being paid for post-consumer recyclable plastic materials in a sorted, baled format, picked up at most major recycling centers.

Source: www.secondarymaterialspricing.com

Post-Consumer Colored HDPE Prices Follow Roller Coaster Ride

Six months ago, the national average price of post-consumer colored high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was at 27.6 cents per pound.

By December 2014 the price had dropped 25 percent to 22.1 cents per pound. In the new year, the price had reached a low of 17.8 cents per pound in January 2015, representing an overall drop of 55 percent (see graph).

After bottoming out like a roller coaster, the average price began a steady rise in February 2015, reaching 21.3 cents per pound. During the past six months, the price has risen a full 55 percent, reaching the previous high level of 27.6 cents per pound on April 10. This colored HDPE price is currently close to the natural HDPE grade, now trading in the 29 cents per pound range.

These prices are as reported on the Secondary Materials Pricing (SMP) Index. This pricing represents what is being paid for post-consumer recyclable plastic materials in a sorted, baled format, picked up at most major recycling centers.

Source: www.secondarymaterialspricing.com

Post-Consumer Mixed Paper (PS-1) Drops 18 Percent During Past Year

The national average price for post-consumer Mixed Paper (PS-1) continues on a gradual monthly downward price trend.

One year ago, the #1 PSI average trading price was in the $57 per ton range. This represented an average return for baled tonnage picked up at most recycling centers. Six months later, in October 2014 the average price had dropped 5 percent to $54 per ton, and by January 2015 it settled in at $53 per ton.

Since January 2015 the average price has continued to slide another 10 percent to the current national average of $48 per ton. During the past year, this represents an overall price drop of 18 percent (see graph).

By comparison, the average price of recovered #8 News has also dropped 18 percent during the past year.

These published prices are for mill-size bales, FOB dealers’ plants, as reported on the Secondary Fiber Pricing (SFP) Index.

Source: www.secondaryfiberpricing.com

Robert Boulanger is currently president of Recycling Markets Ltd. and director of the Commodity Pricing division. He has extensive experience in the operation and management of recycling plants, and is a long-time publisher in the recycling sector. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more than 30 years, the company and its affiliates have focused on the management of company databases and commodity pricing for the recycling industry. In 2002, SecondaryFiberPricing.com was developed as the first industry online format to publish real-time pricing for 18 PSI grades of recyclable paper. SecondaryMaterialsPricing.com was launched in 2004 for postconsumer plastics, cans and glass. Online Members have instant access to more than 10 years of historical data. www.recyclingmarkets.net