November 2022
Ascend Performance Materials Buys Majority Stake in Circular Polymers
Ascend Performance Materials has purchased a majority stake in Circular Polymers, a CARE grantee and important California recycler of post-consumer, high-performance polymers. The deal provides Ascend with a consistent supply of high-quality PCR materials for its ReDefyne™ sustainable polyamides.
 
Lincoln, CA-based Circular Polymers, which as part of the deal is renamed Circular Polymers by Ascend, reclaims and processes post-consumer carpet via a unique, patented technology, and has redirected approximately 85 million pounds of waste from landfills into new goods since 2018.
 
David Bender, founder and CEO of Circular Polymers, holds the remaining equity and will stay on as CEO of the company. “Since 2018, we have focused on improving the sourcing and processing of post-consumer, high-performance polymers,” said Bender. “Having Ascend on board will accelerate our growth and ensure these materials go back into new long-term, high-performance applications.”
 
“We are delighted that Circular Polymers’ progress has been recognized with this deal,” said CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples. “CARE has worked with CP on every step of their success, and we look forward to this next exciting chapter of growth. This caps yet another year of major progress."
CalRecycle Disapproves CARE Plan
CalRecycle Director Rachel Machi Wagoner disapproved CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Plan 2023 to 2027 on November 18th. CARE will revise and resubmit its 2023 to 2027 Plan within the 60-day deadline set by CalRecycle. 
 
CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples said, “This is a stunning decision, given the role CARE has played over the last few years in navigating the pandemic and working with recyclers to deliver year-over-year uninterrupted growth. While CARE will end 2022 at 5 percentage points above our approved carpet recycling rate target, while the State of California reported another drop of the statewide recycling rate, down to 40% for 2021.” The following chart shows the Recycling Rate performance for CARE since 2015.
NOTICE: Differential Assessments to Increase on January 1, 2023
Despite the Plan disapproval, CARE expects that CalRecycle will approve the increase in carpet differential assessment scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2023.
The new assessment amounts are:
The above rates replace the current amounts that went into effect on April 1, 2022.

Retailers are encouraged to visit the CARE website for the latest developments.
Micro Grants Result in Increased Pounds Collected
Five grants (($15,000 each) awarded in 2021’s Cycle 4M demonstrate the positive impact of relatively small grants on the larger carpet recycling ecosystem. Funds were used for containers, machinery and a cement pad, all of which allowed businesses to collect more carpet so that it could be recycled. Together, these five grants led to nearly 2 million additional pounds of carpet collected in the first year of operations. Read more on the CARE website.

CARE introduced micro grants in 2017 in order to promote the additional collection and reuse of California post-consumer carpet (PCC). Micro grants are awarded for infrastructure projects and/or purchase of equipment that supports the operational logistics of properly collecting and/or reusing California PCC. 
The current Micro Grant cycle is accepting applications through the end of the year. See the CARE Grants page for details.
Innovation & Design Grant Application Deadline Extended to February 28, 2023
After consultation with potential grantees, CARE has extended the application deadline for the current cycle of Innovation & Design grants to February 28, 2023. A revised solicitation can be found here. The Q&A document for the Innovation & Design grant cycle is now available on the CARE website. 
See the Grants page for more information.
CARE on the Road
CARE table at greenbuild conference
CARE staff tabled (pictured at right) at the International Greenbuild Conference in San Francisco this month to spread the word about carpet recycling success and challenges in California.

California Program Director Thomas Coates moderated a session on effective outreach and education models for sustainable diversion programs at the Southern California Waste Management Forum on November 3rd.
Save the Date: 2023 CARE Conference
The 2023 CARE Annual Conference will take place April 25-26, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport Hotel. This year’s theme is “Carpet: Feedstock for the Future.” Details on speakers, sessions and registration will be released in January 2023.
Attention Retailers: CalRecycle Compliance Requirements
CalRecycle provides enforcement oversight of California's carpet stewardship law. CalRecycle evaluates compliance through various means including, but not limited to, site inspections and documentation checks. Failure to comply with requirements of the carpet law and/or submitting false or misleading information may result in penalties of up to $10,000 per day. See details about the carpet stewardship law and monitor updates at CalRecycle.ca.gov/Carpet. Through the CARE retailer outreach program, CARE helps to make retailers aware of the requirements and be prepared for a visit.
As a reminder, CalRecycle requires:

  • All invoices must have the assessment clearly and correctly labeled as a separate line item. For current assessment information, visit the CARE website.
  • 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 is in compliance with the carpet stewardship law.
  • Retailers must retain records for three years.