February 2026

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CARE Captures Super Bowl Event Carpet for Recycling

Over 110,000 square feet of commercial carpet used at Super Bowl LX events is being recycled thanks to CARE’s work with ENGIE Impact, a sustainability consulting company that manages NFL Green. CARE worked closely with the ENGIE Impact representatives to ensure event carpeting was captured and transported to CARE recycler Circular Polymers in Lincoln, California for processing.

CARE arranged for strategically placed collection containers at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and funded the transportation to our recyclers.

“Super Bowl events really roll out the red carpet, as well as miles of many other colors of carpet! This carpet is key to elevate the fan experience during Super Bowl, but it is a challenge to properly dispose of afterwards. CARE is helping us keep literal tons out of the landfill, dramatically improving our carpet diversion rate from previous events,” noted Ryan Sclar, Sustainable Mobile Operations Director for ENGIE Impact.

Additionally, one of CARE’s San Francisco public drop-off sites received about 125,000 square feet of carpet from a Super Bowl-related event hosted at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.

The commercial carpet from the events will be recycled into fibers, then made into plastic pellets. These recycled materials can be used to produce a wide variety of products, including new trade show carpeting, carpet underlayment, and items for the automotive, construction, fashion and transportation industries.

CARE Conference Registration is OPEN

CARE’s 24th Annual Conference will take place on May 5-6, 2026 at the Westin in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Join fellow leaders across the carpet recycling industry as we accelerate momentum, spark innovation, and chart bold new strategies for growth. Together, we’ll dive into fresh insights, breakthrough technologies and dynamic discussions that help us navigate today’s challenging economic landscape.

Confirmed speakers for the Conference include Floor Focus publisher Kemp Harr, Technical Director Kevin Line from CertainTeed, Executive Director Doug Kobold of the California Carpet Stewardship Council and historian Matt Spaulding.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to tour carpet and fiber production facilities to see amazing technology at work. There will be ample time for networking along with the traditional CARE Recycler and Person of the Year awards announcement. 

Accommodations    

A limited number of rooms are set aside at The Westin Hotel Chattanooga and will be available to conference attendees until filled or through April 6, 2026, whichever comes first. If you have any questions about hotel accommodations, please contact Trish Strong.

Micro Grant Awarded

CARE has awarded a $15,000 micro grant to Circular Polymers by Ascend (CP) for purchase of the new Matoha fiber identification device (pictured). CARE is purchasing two devices for CP, and CP is providing matching funds to purchase a third. As part of the agreement, all field data will be shared with CARE in order to potentially improve the technology.

New Assessment Structure Disapproved

CalRecycle has disapproved CARE’s Differential Assessments Plan Amendment as submitted last November. To mitigate PET-backing contamination and better reflect true recycling costs, CARE proposed 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.

CARE will submit a revised proposal by March 24, 2026.

Retailer Assessment Compliance Required

The California Carpet Stewardship Assessment must be charged in the correct amount for all carpet sold in the state. The assessment funds the subsidies for collection, processing and recycling of carpet and carpet tile, along with technical assistance, drop-off site support and education/outreach. 

If you are aware of a retailer that is not in compliance, please let CARE know by completing the Assessment Compliance form here.



Learn more about the assessment on the CARE website.

CARE on the Road

California Carpet Stewardship Program Co-Director Rob Thiess and Sustainability & Resilience Director Teddy Stray participated in a Chemical Recycling Charette presented by the California Product Stewardship Council on February 5^th in Sacramento. Rob spoke about “Products Made Using Chemical Processing” including those containing recycled carpet material.

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Grants Manager Abbie Beane tabled for CARE at the recent California Public Procurement Officers (CAPPO) annual conference in San Diego (pictured), where she spread the word about carpet recycling opportunities and products with recycled carpet material.

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CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples will be speaking at AMI’s Chemical Recycling conference in Houston, Texas in March. 

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