CARE says carpet collection hits milestone in California

Dalton, Georgia-based Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) says it has now collected more than 1 billion pounds, or 500,000 tons, of old carpet in California since the start of the California Carpet Stewardship Program in 2011.

CARE says carpet can be considered hard to recycle product, presenting challenges for collection and recycling, so hitting the volume milestone “demonstrates remarkable progress.”

“At a time of strain on the recycling industry, this milestone is an amazing accomplishment that is due to the hard work and dedication of retailers, contractors and recyclers across the state,” says CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples. “This is 1 billion pounds of material that would have gone to waste and instead will see new life in new products. We are delighted to announce this landmark in conjunction with America Recycles Day.”

The California Carpet Stewardship Program works to increase collection of carpet by enabling and encouraging carpet collection from homeowners, contractors, retailers and collectors and sorters. CARE says it also supports the development of markets for recycled carpet material, which is now included in a variety of products, including automotive parts, house trim and siding, insulation, accessibility ramps and even bullet-resistant walls and doors.

CARE’s California carpet collection efforts are funded through an assessment paid by consumers on every square yard of carpet sold in the state, as passed into law (AB 2398) in 2010.

CARE describes itself as a voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the landfill diversion, reuse, and recycling of waste carpet, through “market-based solutions that benefit the economy as well as the environment.”