2019 Annual Report Shows Increased Recycling Rate in CA
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Carpet recycling in California saw significant progress in 2019, according to the just-released California Carpet Stewardship Program 2019 Annual Report. While California's overall materials recycling rate has been on the decline since 2014, the California carpet recycling rate is up 58% in the same period. In addition, CARE’s prompt and multi-faceted COVID-19 Action Plan has provided critical support to the industry as it faces the unprecedented pandemic-related economic and operational challenges of 2020.
According to the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s 2019 Annual Report:
- Over 70% of all carpet collected was recycled, up from 53% in 2018.
- 82 million pounds of post-consumer carpet was collected before it could go to landfill.
- 58 million pounds of recycled output was produced (up 18% from 2018).
- The overall 2019 California recycling rate was 19%, up 27% over 2018. The national carpet recycling rate was 5%.
The 70% recycling rate, or yield, has grown significantly over the life of the program due to investments and CARE grants in support of product testing and processing capacity, as well as growth in markets for post-consumer carpet materials and various technological advances.
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Capital and Micro Grantees Announced
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CARE's California Carpet Stewardship Program has awarded two additional Capital Improvement Grants under Cycle 4A, and three Micro Grants for Collection and Reuse, labeled Cycle 3M. The Cycle 4A grants total $334,952, and the Cycle 3M grants total $38,234.
The capital projects are expected to result in an additional 12 million pounds of California PCC collections through September 30, 2021 and the micro projects are expected to result in an additional 900,000 pounds of California post-consumer carpet collection through June 30, 2021.
Cycle 4A
Green Waste Carpet Recycling, San Jose, CA: Investment in equipment to expand collection of new California-sourced PCC pounds. This project includes piloting a collection strategy for small retailers ($70,952).
Hayward Transfer Station, Hayward, CA: Investment in equipment to expand collection of new California-sourced PCC pounds ($264,000).
Cycle 3M
916 Floors, Roseville, CA: Funds the purchase of a specialized trailer that will allow flooring contractors to source-separate PCC at job sites and haul it directly to a recycler ($15,000).
Bay Counties SMaRT, Sunnyvale, CA: Funds the purchase of a 40-yard roll-off container with a lid for this CARE drop-off site to collect and keep PCC dry year-round for self-hauling to a recycler ($10,234).
Quality Floor Removal, Roseville, CA: Funds the purchase of a specialized trailer that will allow flooring contractors to source-separate PCC at job sites and haul it directly to a recycler ($13,000).
CARE may re-release grant funds for capital improvements and/or post-consumer carpet (PCC) collection projects during the fall. CARE's Cycle 3M will remain open to California-based projects, which may apply for up to $15,000 through 2020.
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COVID-19 Action Plan Extended
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CARE’s Sustainable Plan Committee has taken the following additional steps to extend and support the carpet recycling industry during the pandemic:
- The early subsidy payment options currently set to expire will be continued through the end of 2020.
- The additional 2 cent/lb. subsidy for collections currently set to expire will be continued through the end of 2020.
- A subcommittee of the Sustainable Plan Committee has been formed to look at new ways to enable growing collections. CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples noted about the subcommittee’s work, “We know this will be a bigger challenge and cost more, but is important as the program continues to expand. We hope to have many new ideas ready for implementation by year-end as we continue to monitor market dynamics.
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Q2 Program Results: Holding On in Face of COVID
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CARE has released California Stewardship Program results for Q2 2020. Despite the major impact of COVID-19 in Q2, the overall recycling rate held at 19.8%, essentially flat from Q1’s 19.9%. Calculation of the recycling rate is driven by both recycled output and sales of new carpet. Sales of new carpet were down to 14.4 million square yards – a historic low. This follows an already weaker than expected Q1. Both recycled output and sales were down approximately 16%.
CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples noted “While the recycled output is a significant drop, it is actually better than expected given the economic shutdown in key markets. According to CARE’s forecast, it looks like Q3 will show the beginning of a slow recovery. In addition, one major capacity project is expected to come online.”
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Our hearts go out to those who have been injured and/or displaced by the current series of wildfires across our beautiful state. Drop-off sites are advised that CARE may choose to postpone a scheduled container swap service if the environment is not deemed safe.
CARE drop-off sites are unable to accept any post-consumer carpet material that has experienced fire damage, including smoke or water contamination. This material should be sent to landfill since it cannot be recycled.
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Floor Focus Features Howard Sapper
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Carpet retailer and industry activist Howard Sapper of Commerce, CA’s Carpet Manufacturers Warehouse is featured in the August/September issue of Floor Focus magazine. Sapper describes his approach to the family business founded by his great grandfather in 1918 (pictured: Al and Howard Sapper, photo courtesy the Commerce Connection).
A long-time advocate for carpet recycling, Howard Sapper is currently a member of the California Carpet Stewardship Program Advisory Committee. Carpet Manufacturers Warehouse’s website has a page that urges potential customers to ask about carpet recycling, and hosts a container on-site where installers leave carpet and pad for recycling. Sapper notes, “It benefits the installers because they don’t have to go to landfill, and we have moved several million pounds to recycling since we started.”
Sapper reviews the industry’s progress:
“In the past 10 years, the carpet recycling industry has been maturing in the state. When the State of California passed AB 2398, mandating recycling of carpeting, the infrastructure was not in place. Retailers had to look hard to find a direct benefit to the recycling of carpet. Now, as the recycling industry is hungry for more end-of-life carpet, retailers who have not yet started to divert carpet should be looking into it. Costs for collection can now save retailers money over landfilling end-of-life carpet, and CARE is actively looking to grow collection efforts in the state to meet the growing demands of the recycling industry. CARE and the California Team have done an excellent job navigating the program from its inception to today. Carpet recycling is good for the environment, good for the landfill, good for your consumers, and now it's good for your pocketbook.”
When COVID hit, Sapper described how they applied to the City of Commerce to stay open:
“'Fortunately, we do a lot of business with property management and home sales.’ Howard submitted his request to stay open on these grounds, also outlining the safety protocols the business would follow during the outbreak. The City came out to check that his story was true and that his protocols were in place, and then gave him the green light.”
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CARE Staff Profile: Abbie Beane
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Grant Manager Abbie Beane has worked with CARE since 2015 on all aspects of the Grants program. She designs and promotes the different grant cycles, manages grantee selection, oversees grantee activities and reporting and manages contracts and reporting. Abbie also helps with market development and collection outreach. She got into the sustainability field through working with the Product Stewardship Institute. Additional experience include working with the Offset Project (focusing on commercial/residential waste diversion and zero waste initiatives for special events) and Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, along with volunteering with Monterey County Food Bank.
Abbie worked as a sorter in the college recycling facility during her undergrad days and notes, “I've always had a passion for environmental conservation and for waste diversion in particular. This is the reason for my deep interest in how products are designed and how innovative programs can lessen end-of-life impacts. Working with the California Carpet Stewardship Program team has given me the opportunity to be a part of increasing the current and future sustainability of this product.”
CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples said, “We are truly grateful to have Abbie on our team. Not only is she highly competent, but she is a pleasure to work with day in and day out. We have heard this from many of our recyclers.”
Spare time? What a concept. In addition to juggling her kids and work, Abbie is passionate about being outdoors and goes trail running as often as she can. A former sports and news reporter, she still avidly follows Boston area sports teams. Go Bruins!
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