November 2021
Milestone: One Billion Pounds of Carpet Collected
As America Recycles Day was observed on November 15, CARE passed the one billion pound milestone for gross collection of old carpet in California since the start of the California Carpet Stewardship Program in 2011. 

CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples noted, “This is one billion pounds of material that would have gone to waste and instead will see new life in new products. We are delighted to announce this landmark in conjunction with America Recycles Day.”
 
Differential Assessment Plan Takes Effect on April 1, 2022
CARE’s revised differential assessment plan, which CalRecycle has conditionally approved, was submitted to CalRecycle on October 26th. The differential assessment is based on two factors: carpet type, that is broadloom vs. tile, and the percent of post-consumer (PC) content in new carpet. The new Plan will go into effect on April 1, 2022, with four levels of assessment:
  • Broadloom, <10% PC content: $.35 per square yard
  • Broadloom, > or = 10% PC content: $.33 per square yard
  • Carpet Tile, <10% PC content: $.50 per square yard
  • Carpet Tile, > or =10% PC content: $.48 per square yard
 
The assessment is higher for carpet tile because it costs significantly more to recycle carpet tile than broadloom due to preparation, processing requirements and distance to available end markets. CARE estimates that less than three percent of carpet tile in California is currently being recycled or reused.
 
Carpet retailers in the state have been alerted and are advised to begin planning immediately for the point-of-purchase changes needed to correctly assign the assessment and collect it from customers. Carpet mills will be responsible for advising retailers on which products qualify as having greater than 10% PC material. CARE will supply point-of-purchase material as well as training support materials for sales staff.

Retailers are encouraged to visit the CARE website for the latest developments.
CalRecycle to Hold Public Workshop on Carpet Stewardship Program Goals
CalRecycle has announced a public workshop for December 16th to gather public comments and input on draft goal concepts for the carpet stewardship program. An agenda and supporting documents for this workshop will be posted in the “Documents” section of the CalRecycle notice in advance of the workshop date.

For more information and to register, visit the CalRecycle website.
Two New Micro Grants and One New Testing Grant Awarded 
CARE's California Carpet Stewardship Program has awarded three new grants, totaling $80,000, through its 2021 Product Testing cycle (labeled Cycle 4B) and its 2021 Micro Grants for Collection/Reuse cycle (labeled Cycle 4M). Cycle 4B funds are designated to support testing the inclusion of California-sourced post-consumer carpet (PCC) in new or reformulated products or applications, and Cycle 4M funds are designated for new or enhanced PCC collection or reuse efforts.
 
The Cycle 4B awardee is Arizona Alternative Materials of Phoenix, Arizona ($50,000) to improve the processing of PCC backing material (PC4) and therefore increase its marketability for new cementitious products. 
 
The Cycle 4M awardees are Serv-Wel of Los Angeles ($15,000) for equipment to service a large PCC generator, and Rivera's Fine Flooring of Morgan Hill, a CARE public drop-off site, to improve its collection area with a new cement pad and weather cover to keep PCC clean and dry for recycling.
 
Cycle 4M remains open to eligible entities through the end of 2021.

To learn more about the CARE grants program and apply, visit our California grants webpage.
Stef Talks Trash header
California Program Featured on Waste 360
CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples was the guest on a recent video feature on industry publication Waste 360. Bob and interviewer Stefanie Valentic discussed the challenges that come with carpet recycling, extended producer responsibility and how California's carpet recovery program can provide lessons for other states and countries.
 
Rob and Lisa at CARE table
CARE on the Road
Last month CARE staff members Lisa Mekis and Rob Thiess tabled at the Northern California Facilities Expo in Santa Clara to promote the growing array of products containing post-consumer carpet materials and to highlight convenient carpet drop-off sites in the Greater Bay Area.

The CARE booth was visited by professionals who may be responsible for managing old carpet, including facilities managers, apartment complex owners and homeowners.