Post-Consumer Recycling Markets Stay the Course

The latest numbers are in for post-consumer prices for high-density polyethylene; PET beverage bottles and jars; and sorted office paper. On balance, prices haven’t moved much on any of the commodities.

Post-Consumer Natural HDPE Prices Rise 8 percent

Since June 1, the national average price of post-consumer natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from curbside collection programs has already risen 8 percent.

The closing national average price reported in May was 30.9 cents per pound.

Effective June 19, the national average price had reached 33.4 cents per pound (see graph).

In February the trading price reached a low of 24.3 cents per pound, compared to the previous high of 56 cents per pound during the summer of 2014.

After a two-year roller coaster ride, the national average price has gradually returned to its current 33 cents per pound range, the same level reported in May 2013.

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 PET Prices Remain Steady

During the past six months, the national average price of post-consumer PET beverage bottles and jars remains steady, in the 14.2 cents per pound range (see graph).

This current price is in stark contrast to the reported average of 21.9 cents per pound in March 2014.

Furthermore, two years ago the national reported average for this post-consumer material was even higher, at 31.4 cents per pound in April 2013.

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 Sorted Office Paper (PS-37) Drops 5 Percent

The price for post-consumer sorted office paper (PS-37) has remained steady at the $164 per ton level since February.

However, this represents a gradual average drop of $9 per ton during the past year.

Effective June 2014 the average trading price for this grade was in the $173 per ton range.

Industry typically defines this sorted office paper grade as baled paper generated by offices, usually made up of white and colored groundwood free paper.

These published prices are for mill-size bales, FOB (freight on board) 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.