December 2024

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REMINDER: Assessment To Increase on February 1st, Pending CalRecycle Approval

Pending CalRecycle approval, the California Carpet Assessment will increase on February 1, 2025. CalRecycle’s director will approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove CARE’s plan amendment no later than January 7, 2025. The assessment request was submitted to CalRecycle on November 8^th. CalRecycle will review CARE's Differential Assessments Plan Amendment for compliance with statutory, regulatory, and Plan requirements. 

If approved by CalRecycle, the new assessment amounts will be:

Stakeholders will be advised as soon as the decision is known.

CARE Collaborates with USGBC-CA

CARE has worked with U.S. Green Building Council California throughout 2024, seeking to inform construction and architecture professionals who are active in sustainability. In November, a blog by CARE Market Development Director Teddy Stray highlighting a recent commercial tile recycling project was published on the U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA) website.

Read the post here.

In addition, CARE Product and Market Development Manager Rob Thiess presented a webinar for USGBC-CA on November 20. “Flooring Reborn: The Essentials of Commercial Carpet Tile Reuse & Recycling” was attended by some 42 participants, who asked questions about mill takeback programs and other specifics around commercial carpet recycling.

New Testing and Capital Grant Cycles Announced

CARE has announced two new grant cycles:

Capital Grant Cycle 7A provides funding for capital improvements 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. CARE will give preference to projects that can prove project impact in the first year of operations and have a proven track record of operational growth and success. CARE has allocated $700,000 total to award to California-based projects throughout Cycle 7A (2025-2027). Individual projects may apply for up to $500,000 in Cycle 7A funds. Only California-based private entities are eligible to apply. CARE’s current priorities are to enhance PCC tile recycling and reuse, PCC collection and PCC calcium carbonate backing (PC4) recycling; develop fiber-agnostic markets; and grow pelletizing and compounding infrastructure in California. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025.

See the Capital Grant solicitation here.

Testing Grant Cycle 6B will provide funding for activities that will focus on product testing, research and development, and similar market development activities to improve and enhance post‑consumer carpet (PCC) recycling and utilization of recycled-content product manufacturing. CARE is particularly interested in proposals seeking to create new or reformulate existing products and applications using carpet backing material (known as post-consumer carpet calcium carbonate (PC4), mixed fibers and carpet tiles. CARE has allocated up to $100,000 total to award to projects throughout Cycle 6B in 2025. Products and applications using PC4 or focused on fiber agnostic applications and carpet tile recycling/secondary markets will be prioritized. Applications will be accepted throughout 2025.

See the Testing Grant solicitation here.

Micro Grants Awarded

The following have been announced under the current Micro Grant cycle:

• Cristal Materials, Inc. in Southern California was awarded a $15,000 grant for each of its two sites to place containers at three new sites collecting PCC for recycling.
• WSL, Inc. was awarded $13,300 for fencing to secure its new PCC collection site in Union City.
• Recology Auburn Placer was granted $15,000 for a container to collect post-consumer carpet and establish a new CARE public drop-off site in Placer County. 

CARE Welcomes New Public Drop-off Sites

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

• Elite Floor Covering, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
• Guadalupe Recycling and Disposal Facility, San Jose, Santa Clara County
• Keller Interiors, Chico, Butte County
• Redwood Landfill, Novato, Marin County

There are currently 162 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 some 220 plus private collection sites around the state.

CARE Conference: Join Us in Oceanside, CA in May

CARE’s 23^rd Annual Conference is coming to California: May 20-21, 2025 at the Sea Bird Resort in Oceanside. The Conference theme is “Carpet Recycling: Riding the Sustainability Wave.” Please mark your calendars! More information and registration will be available in late January.

CARE is proud to welcome BTR Flooring & Recycling as the 2025 Conference's Premier Sponsor. Sponsors are critical to the Conference's success and receive valuable benefits. We invite you to consider sponsoring the Conference. See details here.

CarpetRecovery.org/CA