CARE Reacts to CalRecycle’s Proposed Goals for Five Year Plan
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CalRecycle staff have proposed a series of recycling, collection and convenience goals to be incorporated into CARE’s Five Year Plan for 2023-27. The Request for Approval (RFA) was presented at the April 19 public meeting. “Several of the proposed goals are extremely ambitious, if not unrealistic,” noted CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples. “Our response to the RFA is to request that CalRecycle staff re-examine and modify the goals to enhance the carpet recycling program’s ongoing success, while recognizing the very real challenges we face. These goals have unintended consequences that may actually hurt; more time is needed to fully understand and assess the impacts on this complex program." The Director’s decision is expected shortly.
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Aquafil Woodland Plant Closing
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Aquafil’s recycling plant in Woodland, CA has closed its processing operations as of this month. Aquafil has been an important player in the carpet recycling industry for several years. The Woodland plant — known as ACR No. 2 — opened in 2019 with a goal of processing Nylon 6 from carpets back into raw material for new carpet and other textiles.
The closing is attributed to substantial start-up delays due to PG&E's failure to provide necessary power and supply chain delays. “This is a blow to carpet recycling in the state,” noted CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples. “Since nylon is no longer the top material of choice for broadloom carpeting, and as overall carpet sales continue to decline, this feedstock is only going to become more challenging to collect in sufficient quantities.” Aquafil will be consolidating its operations in Phoenix over the next several months. Aquafil indicates they plan to continue collections at the Woodland site.
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New Round of Capital Improvement Grants Announced
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CARE is announcing a new round of the Capital Improvement Grant Program, which provides funding for equipment and infrastructure that will establish, increase, improve and enhance additional California-generated post-consumer carpet (PCC) collection, reuse, recycling and/or utilization of recycled content product manufacturing. Cycle 6A of the capital grants program is open to California-based public and private businesses, nonprofits and local agencies.
CARE has allocated $750,000 total to award to California-based projects throughout Cycle 6A (2022-24). Individual projects may apply for up to $500,000 in Cycle 6A funds. CARE may reissue this grant solicitation after the first round of applications are received, based on available funding and market readiness. Grantees must achieve project completion by September 30, 2024. CARE will give preference to projects that can prove project impact in the first half of 2023 and have a proven track record of operational growth and success. The deadline to apply under this cycle is July 6 at 5 p.m. PDT.
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CARE is partnering with International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 16 (in northern California) and District Council 36 (in southern California) to incorporate carpet recycling information in their trainings. CARE has been working with DC 16 and DC 36 to create and implement a training program for apprentice and journeymen flooring contractors. To supplement in-person training of apprentices, CARE has created a video that reinforces the reasons for recycling, explains the recycling process and the role that installers/contractors play, and showcases recycled carpet end markets.
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Differential Assessments Take Effect
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Carpet differential assessments took effect on April 1st for all carpet sold in California. The new assessment levels are:
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The differential assessment program is a mandatory part of the California Carpet Stewardship Program. California carpet retailers who fail to comply could be subject to penalties issued by CalRecycle, which will be conducting field audits.
CARE will be surveying retailers starting this week to gather input on the assessment rollout and any barriers to implementation.
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New Drop-Off Sites Welcomed
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As part of CARE’s efforts to increase carpet collection for recycling across the state, CARE is pleased to announce its latest public carpet recycling drop-off sites:
CARE supports drop-off sites by providing at no cost:
- A container for collection
- Third-party hauling to bring 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.
There are currently 98 CARE public drop-off sites in all 58 California counties. To find the CARE-sponsored drop-off site closest to you, visit the drop-off site map here. 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 and location. 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 200 private network collection sites around the state.
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CARE is seeking qualified individuals to join the California Carpet Stewardship Program team. Click the links below to learn more and apply:
In addition, the California Carpet Stewardship Program of CARE is soliciting two-year proposals for marketing, education, and outreach professional services to help CARE achieve meaningful progress toward the goal of increasing carpet recycling in the state of California. The proposal is open to California-based private corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations.
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Last Chance: CARE Conference
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It’s now or never! You can still register for CARE’s 20th Annual Conference, set for May 3-4 in Minneapolis, MN, our first in-person Conference since 2019.
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