Prices rise for recycled polyolefin grades

Prices for bales of natural HDPE, color HDPE and PP have all continued increasing over the past month, though other plastics have seen values stay relatively flat.

The national average for natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs is up 9%. It is now trading for an average of 74.59 cents per pound. This compares with 68.72 cents last month and 54.81 cents this time last year.

The national average price of color HDPE is also up by 12% this month, at 16.09 cents per pound, compared with 14.41 cents last month and 29.59 cents one year ago. Some regions are trading for about 19.00 cents per pound.

Polypropylene (PP) is also up. This grade is now trading at 10.25 cents per pound, compared with 8.19 cents last month. PP was 34.63 cents one year ago.

PET beverage bottles and jars are now averaging 14.20 cents per pound, compared to 14.17 cents per pound this time last month. Some regions are still trading as high as 17.5 cents per pound. This grade was trading at 39.56 cents one year ago.

The national average price of Grade A film remains firm, at 17.44 cents per pound. That's compared with 22.63 cents one year ago.

Grade B film is still 7.81 cents, compared with 8.13 cents one year ago.

Grade C film remains at a low 0.5 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 SMP's Online Post-Consumer Pricing Index, visit recyclingmarkets.net. You can also contact Christina Boulanger-Bosley at [email protected] or call 330-956-8911.