December 2025

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Differential Assessments Plan Amendment Submitted

On November 24, 2025, CARE submitted a revised Differential Assessments Plan Amendment to CalRecycle for consideration. To mitigate PET-backing contamination and better reflect true recycling costs, CARE proposes replacing the current Broadloom-vs-Tile differential with a Commercial-vs-Residential structure.

The proposed structure is grounded in the fiber-specific cost modeling produced by CARE’s Blended Fiber Study Taskforce and the broader analysis of face-fiber characteristics. CalRecycle’s director has 60 days to review and approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove CARE’s Differential Assessments Plan Amendment by January 23, 2025. 

The proposal can be read here.

Partnering for Success

For the third year running, CARE has supported the collection of carpet used in Orange County’s annual auto show at the Anaheim Convention Center (pictured above). Partnering with a local hauler, 20,420 pounds of carpet that might have gone to landfill was instead taken to a CARE processor, to be recycled for use in manufacturing new products. Read the case study.

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Since 2021, CARE has partnered with Conservation Corps North Bay, which reported the collection of 43,500 pounds of carpet for recycling in their 2024/25 Annual Report. Carpet and carpet tile collection is available to the public at $35 per drop off for standard vehicles (pickup truck, van, etc.) or $125 per drop off for large vehicles (box truck, trailer, etc.) at 3555 Airway Dr., Santa Rosa, from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm (except on holidays.) No appointment needed.

Since its inception in July 2011, CARE participants have recycled more than 750 million pounds (375,000 tons) of old carpet from California landfills.

Bentley Mills Wins Award from NSAC

As part of the launch of the national Textile Circularity Working Group, the nonprofit National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) presented its 2025 National Leadership Award to Bentley Mills, a California-based carpet manufacturer recognized for pioneering circular design, take-back systems and recycled material innovation. 

Innovation & Design Grant Q&A Posted

CARE has posted a document of questions and answers for the next cycle of Innovation & Design grants. CARE has allocated up to $200,000 total to award to U.S.-based projects throughout this Program in 2026. Individual projects may apply for up to $100,000 in Cycle I&D funds. Cycle I&D grant funding will depend on the availability of funds from the California Carpet Stewardship Program.

Program applications are due no later than March 31, 2026 and projects must reach completion by December 31, 2027. 

View the solicitation.

View the Q&A document.

REMINDER: Reporting Requirement for Carpet Producers

Per California law, carpet producers must annually provide specific information regarding the business’ address and contact information in addition to the brands and types of carpet they sell. CalRecycle has provided written notification of this requirement to known carpet producers in the past.

From the law: “...producers shall provide to the department, in a form and manner established by the department, all the following:

1. The producer’s contact information, including its name, physical and mailing addresses, email address, and phone number.
2. A list of covered products and brands of covered products that the producer sells, distributes for sale, imports for sale, or offers for sale in or into the state.

A producer shall update the information described above and provide the updated information to the department on or before January 15 of each year, within 30 days of changes to the information, and upon request of the department. This information must be sent directly to CalRecycle. Please do not send it to CARE. All manufacturers should also have received a reminder email from CARE.

If a carpet mill representative has questions, email CarpetEnforcement@Calrecycle.ca.gov.

CARE Conference: Save the Date!

CARE’s 24^th Annual Conference will take place May 5-6, 2026 at the Westin in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Registration will open in February. There will be a unique opportunity for mill tours, to see amazing technology at work.

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