April 2024

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CA Carpet Recycling Rate Surpasses Goal for Second Year Running

The California Carpet Stewardship Program achieved an unheard-of carpet recycling rate of 35.1 percent for 2023. For the second year running, this far exceeds the goal (31 percent) set in the Program’s Five-Year Plan; the California carpet recycling rate is up 84 percent in five years and has more than tripled since 2015. This recycling rate for carpet has not been achieved anywhere else in the world. Since the Program started, CARE recyclers have collected more than 650,000 tons (more than a billion pounds) of old carpet.

CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples noted, “The Program’s successes have come in the face of significant headwinds challenging the industry: carpet sales (a factor in determining the recycling rate and the funding to run the program) have been declining for years. Additionally, the industry is impacted by depressed resin market prices, a drop in carpet cushion demand and prices, and insufficient supply of post-consumer carpet to support recycler operations and thus profitability. This is a complex situation, and the Program’s stakeholders are striving to maintain resilience in the face of these changes. These factors are adversely impacting all recycling programs. Despite the challenges, the Program is working amazingly well and steadily growing."

More details about 2023 performance will be included in the Program’s Annual Report, available September 1st.

CARE Releases RFP for Carpet Characterization Study

CARE has committed to increasing the recyclability of carpet as one the performance goals in the approved 2023-2027 California Carpet Stewardship Plan. More specifically, the recyclability of carpet means program capacity to recycle the various fiber types of post-consumer carpet (PCC) that are collected. As part of this effort, CARE has released a Request for Proposals for characterization of carpet construction types, open to private corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.

Download the RFP here.

Currently, 100% of carpet as manufactured is technically recyclable. Due to external factors, some PCC cannot be recycled due to contamination or is not recycled because the economics do not justify recycling, the volume is insufficient, technology is unavailable, or end markets for recycled output are not available.

CARE will use insights from the studies to inform new carpet designs, equipment investments at recyclers, and exploration of new markets for PCC material.

Welcome New Public Drop-off Sites

CARE welcomes two new public drop-off sites this month:

• Cristal Materials LA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
• Madison Materials, Santa Ana, Orange County

There are currently 149 CARE public drop-off sites servicing all 58 California counties.

CARE supports drop-off sites by providing at no cost:

• A container for collection
• Third-party hauling to transport carpet material to recyclers
• Promotional materials for local government and the hosting facility
• Technical assistance from CARE staff
• Ready access to micro grants that support site set-up and collection equipment/infrastructure.

CARE provides public drop-off sites with custom signage and collateral. Pictured below is a CARE container at the Hung A Lel Ti Woodfords Community Council drop-off site in Alpine County, with sign in the Washoe language.

To find the CARE-sponsored drop-off site closest to you, visit the drop-off site map. If there is a location, such as a supply house, landfill, transfer station or recycling facility that you feel would work well as a drop-off site for you and other flooring professionals near you, please email CARE with the facility's name, location and business phone number. A CARE staff person will call you to discuss your volume, learn more about flooring professionals’ needs in your area and work toward finding a solution.

In addition to public drop-off sites, CARE works with the recyclers who operate more than 180 private collection sites around the state.

A CARE container at the Hung A Lel Ti Woodfords Community Council drop-off site in Alpine County

On April 17, CARE Senior Associate Lisa Mekis delivered a virtual workshop on carpet recycling fundamentals, presented by USGBC-California. Over 40 attendees heard about the carpet stewardship law’s requirements, how the Program functions and the carpet recycling process, along with challenges and opportunities ranging from carpet collection to processing to market development.

To continue CARE’s outreach to the green building community, CARE will table at the CA Green Building Conference on May 23 in South Los Angeles.

Last Call! CARE Conference May 7-8 in Indianapolis

It’s almost here, but you can still register for CARE's 22nd Annual Conference, “Carpet Recycling: Chasing the Checkered Flag.” Join us May 7-8 at the Indianapolis Hilton Hotel and Suites in Indianapolis, Indiana. Expert speakers and plenty of networking time make this an important event for anyone involved with the carpet recycling industry. See the full agenda here.

Collectors, processors, and manufacturers from around the country will discuss recent developments in recycling technology, the identification (ID) equipment challenge, Extended Producer Responsibility, and new products and markets. 

There will be ample time for networking along with the traditional CARE Recycler and Person of the Year awards announcement. Plus, new this year: Mentalist Chad Collyer will bring his unique combination of magic and mind reading to the CARE Conference Awards dinner on Tuesday. Learn more.

CarpetRecovery.org/CA