California Signs National Carpet Recycling Agreement

SACRAMENTO--Kicking off the New Year, California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Winston H. Hickox signed the National Carpet Recycling Agreement along with a consortium of industry representatives including carpet and fiber manufacturers, the Carpet and Rug Institute, as well as fifteen state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations and the U.S. EPA.

Upon signing the landmark agreement, Secretary Hickox observed, "We are making great strides in targeting materials, such as carpet that have been difficult to recycle or reuse in the past. This voluntary agreement will help guarantee California’s goals to reduce carpet disposal in California landfills, while developing a system that treats discarded carpet as a resource instead of a waste."

Cal/EPA's Integrated Waste Management Board--the state’s primary recycling agency--has participated in the development of the agreement for the past year. 

"This agreement serves as the first multistate effort to collect used carpet, while promoting and maintaining the objectives of product stewardship," stated Waste Board Chair Linda Moulton-Patterson. "Currently, California is diverting 42 percent of all waste from landfills, while only 6 percent of discarded carpet is targeted for recycling or reuse. By providing a national carpet collection and recycling infrastructure, valuable landfill space is protected and we are one step closer to a sustainable recycling economy in California and nationwide."

California disposes of 288,000 tons of carpet, or 12 percent of the national average on an annual basis. A difficult material to collect, manage, reuse and recycle--the recycling rate for carpet is currently four percent. With an estimated 2.5 million tons of used carpet discarded nationwide each year, the volume of carpeting is expected to increase 44 percent in the next ten years.

The agreement’s initial ten-year plan has set nationwide goals of 40 percent for carpet recycling and reuse. The agreement also establishes the roles and responsibilities for Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), an industry-led, third party organization that will assist in the development of a carpet collection and recycling infrastructure, and identify viable markets for postconsumer carpet. Starting in 2003, CARE will publish an annual report outlining the results of their efforts. By increasing the availability of recycled carpet fiber, manufacturers can expect an abundant source of feedstock, increasing the amount of recycled-content carpeting in the marketplace.

The National Carpet Recycling Agreement sets the stage for the development of green procurement specifications in California. These specifications are being developed jointly with the help of participating agencies, including the Waste Board, the State and Consumer Services Agency, Department of General Services, and the Department of Health Services. When completed, the specifications will be used for all State projects and will provide an example of California’s commitment to recycling and sustainability.

Cal/EPA’s new headquarters in Sacramento is carpeted with replaceable carpet tiles made of 52 percent recycled-content materials. In order to maximize carpet longevity, carpet tiles are rotated, increasing the useful life of the tiles from 10 years to 15-20 years. The initial purchasing agreement for the building also included a take-back provision, specifying that all carpet tiles will be returned to the manufacturer and recycled into new products.

The six-member California Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for protecting public health and safety and the environment through management of the estimated 66 million tons of solid waste generated in California each year. The Board works in partnership with local government, industry, and the public to reduce solid waste disposal and ensure environmentally safe landfills.

The Waste Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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