Carpet Recycling Agreement inked - Industry News - National Carpet Recycling Agreement, U.S - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

A National Carpet Recycling Agreement has been signed by carpet and fiber manufacturers, state governments, non-governmental organizations, the U.S. EPA and the Carpet and Rug Institute Dalton, Ga.

As part of the agreement, the carpet industry has established a third-party organization known as the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). During the agreement's ten-year span, CARE will work to establish collection systems for used consumer carpet.

The aim of the voluntary agreement is to eliminate landfill disposal and incineration of used carpet. "The National Carpet Recycling Agreement provides a new cooperative model between business and the states. This has been a state- and industry-convened process, with great participation from U.S. EPA," says Sherry Enzler, director of the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.

Government and industry representatives have worked together for two years to craft an agreement that encourages product stewardship--meaning carpet manufacturers assume responsibility for carpet throughout its life cycle--from design to disposal.

As much as 2.5 million tons of carpet are discarded each year in the U.S. The material can be bulky and difficult to handle, and is sometimes illegally disposed of by the general public.

"Since the agreement is entirely voluntary, carpet manufacturers are able to define the best approach for achieving a40% landfill diversion goal in the agreement's ten year span," notes Elizabeth Cotsworth, director of the U.S. EPA's Office of Solid Waste.

In addition to reducing the burden on landfills, carpet recycling will ideally provide financial and environmental benefits to carpet manufacturers. For example, Honeywell estimates that its carpet recycling program saves more than 700,000 barrels of oil per year, conserving 4.4 trillion BTUs of energy. C&A Floorcoverings Inc., Dalton, Ga., flooring manufacturer, estimates that its recycling program has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 11,000 tons from 1993 through 1999.

Nylon fiber, the primary material in carpet, is a valuable polymer that can be recycled and used to make new products, such as injection-molded auto parts.

"The carpet industry has, over the years, shown its commitment to sustainability as described in The Report of the President's Council on Sustainability," says Werner Braun, president of the Carpet and Rug Institute. "This commitment is further demonstrated today in our signing the National Agreement on Carpet Recycling. The challenges in reaching the goal are large but the opportunities are equally large and justify our effort."

More information on the National Carpet Recycling Agreement is available at www.moea.state.mn.us/carpet, the Web site of the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA).

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