The Carpet Recyclers hit 100 million pounds mark

The Carpet Recyclers, operators of a carpet recycling facility in La Mirada, California, have collected and recycled 100 million pounds of post-consumer carpet since beginning operations in 2009. As carpet is a petroleum-based product, in addition to diverting this waste from landfills, The Carpet Recyclers’ efforts have also kept 95,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and saved 9.8 million gallons of oil that was reused to make products ranging from recycled carpet, building materials and cylinder head covers for the Ford Mustang.

On track to recycle over 60 million pounds of carpet in 2011, The Carpet Recyclers have already created 60 new green jobs in California and expect that number to increase to 150 by the end of the year in their efforts to gear up for AB 2398, the new California Carpet Stewardship law. The Carpet Recyclers is also increasing production in its zero-waste-to-landfill facility, exclusive to the western United States, expanding transportation services and developing an innovative, state-wide network of post-consumer carpet collection centers to meet the rapidly-increasing demands for carpet recycling and the oil-based resources harvested by carpet recycling.

To encourage carpet recycling, starting July 1, 2011, AB 2398 requires a $.05 carpet stewardship assessment to be placed on every square yard of carpet sold in California. The assessment must be shown on invoices to increase consumer awareness.

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has been designated as the industry stewardship organization charged with implementing AB 2398 goals. Their efforts include conducting educational programs and preparing communications materials for retailers and informational flyers for consumers which will be available in stores before July 1.