Carpet America Recovery Effort
An Effective Practice
Description
Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a voluntary initiative of the carpet industry and government to prevent carpet from burdening landfills. CARE focuses on developing carpet reclamation and recycling methods. There is no simple, routine method in place today to recycle old carpet. Each case is individual since there is no infrastructure to handle old carpet at this time. CARE is working to help put that infrastructure in place. Recycled carpet is going into composite lumber (both decking and sheets), tile backer board, roofing shingles, railroad ties, automotive parts, carpet cushion, stepping stones, and other products.
Goal / Mission
CARE's goal is to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet, and reduce the amount of carpet going to landfills.
Results / Accomplishments
Since CARE began in 2002, we know approximately 500 million pounds of old carpet have been recovered. That number is growing each year. On January 27th we jointly awarded the first StarNet/CARE partnership certificate to Pfizer Corporation in New York City. Pfizer, working with Consolidated Carpet and CarpetCycle, were able to keep more than 145K pounds of old carpet out of the landfill in 2005.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Primary Contact
Topics
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Organization(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Date of publication
2006
Date of implementation
2002
Location
USA