December 2023

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Reminder: Differential Assessment Increases on January 1, 2024

As approved by CalRecycle, the California carpet assessment will increase on January 1, 2024. As before, the assessment has four levels, based on material type.

The new levels are:

By law the assessment must be clearly visible on invoices as a separate line item and must include a label using language approved by CalRecycle.

See the CARE website for details.

Assessment Compliance Reminder

Retailers are required by law to charge the current carpet assessment to all customers in the state. CalRecycle is regularly in the field to inspect retailers to check current practices. Failure to comply with the law could result in steep fines. To ensure compliance:

• All invoices must have the assessment clearly and correctly labeled as a separate line item.
• Retailers must purchase carpet from carpet manufacturers in compliance with the carpet stewardship law. See the list on the CalRecycle website here.
• Retailers are required by law to monitor CalRecycle’s website to determine if the sale of a manufacturer’s carpet complies with the carpet stewardship law.
• Retailers must retain records for three years.

For more information see the Assessments page of the CARE website.

Compliance Inquiry Form Available

Upon the advice of the Carpet Stewardship Program Advisory Committee, CARE has created an online form for inquiries about California carpet retailers that may not be operating in compliance with current assessment fee requirements. 

View the form here.

Bob Peoples Discusses Assessment on Podcast

CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples was a guest on the Floor Daily podcast in December to talk about the assessment and other challenges for the carpet recycling industry.

Listen here.

Q3 Numbers Show Unusual Recycling Rate Decline

External factors, including the ongoing steady decline in carpet sales, led to a decline in the recycling rate for carpet to 33%, the first drop in over 7 years. Carpet recyclers are facing major headwinds in the markets for these products. The residential sector, which makes up about 86% of the sales slowdown, continues to impact carpet collection. The sale of new carpet generates the rip-out of old carpet and the vast majority of the feed to carpet recyclers. In addition, the pad markets, while not covered by the carpet stewardship law, have collapsed, putting further financial pressure on recyclers.

See the Q3 presentation for details.

CARE Welcomes New Public Drop-Off Sites

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

• Davis Street Transfer Station, San Leandro, Alameda County
• Yuba Sutter HHW Facility, Yuba City, Sutter County

There are currently 147 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.

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.

Capital Grant Awarded

The CARE grant program has awarded Vernon, CA-based Los Angeles Fiber Co. (LAF) $241,449 for processing equipment to increase recycled output over the next five years as well as to open new markets for California post-consumer carpet feedstock for finished products. LAF is believed to be the largest carpet recycler in the world today with more than 20 years in business. The company has cumulatively recycled over 1 BILLION pounds of old carpet since 1999.

I&D Grant Cycle Open

CARE’s second cycle of Innovation & Design Grants is open to applicants through February 29, 2024. For more information, please visit the CARE grants webpage or email Abbie Beane, CARE grants manager, at ABeane@CarpetRecovery.org.

Grant Case Study Focuses on Carpet Tile Reuse

CARE has published a new grantee case study on a southern California business that focuses on carpet tile reuse. Repurpose Earth collects carpet tile from area construction projects along with attic stock or overages. They received a $15,000 grant to purchase a used propane forklift, strapping equipment and an electric pallet jack to enable more efficient sorting and transporting of carpet tile. The tile is sorted and cleaned and then donated to disadvantaged communities. As of October, Repurpose Earth has repurposed about 730,000 pounds of carpet tile in 2023.

See the case study here.

RecycleMyCarpet.com Launches

CARE has launched a new micro website that will be useful for consumers. RecycleMyCarpet.com includes information on carpet reuse, donation, maintenance and recycling.

The site aims to increase California residents’ awareness of environmentally preferable end-of-life options for wall-to-wall carpet and carpet tile.

2024 Conference: Mark Your Calendar!

The 2024 CARE Annual Conference will take place May 7-8, 2024 at the Hilton Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana. The theme, Carpet Recycling: Chasing the Checkered Flag, was inspired by the host city’s world-famous event. Registration and more details are coming in January.

Learn more about available sponsorship opportunities!