Sacramento, CA – The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) today applauded the decision by the California Department of Resources and Recovery (CalRecycle) to approve the 2018-2022 Carpet Recovery Stewardship Plan, submitted by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), an industry-led program to develop and support carpet recycling in California. Following the approval of the plan, CRI reiterated its continued support of efforts to build an infrastructure in which to recycle carpet in California and increase the carpet recycling rates in the state.
“This stewardship plan is designed to expand and build upon the successful carpet recycling program that continues to establish itself in California,” said CRI President Joe Yarbrough. “CRI and the entire carpet industry are committed to increasing carpet reclamation and recycling for the long term and we look forward to continuing to work with CalRecycle and the state in this critical effort.”
California’s post-consumer carpet recycling program is managed and implemented by Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) – a nonprofit charged with the program’s implementation and funded by a $0.35 per square yard fee on sales. The program, created by legislation authored by former Assembly Speaker John Perez, is leading the nation with a successful model of a comprehensive post-consumer carpet recycling program.
Since 2012, CARE has been effective in significantly increasing the amount of used carpet recycled in California. Within just six years, CARE has diverted more than 575,000 metric tons of carpets from landfills, which is equivalent to a reduction in 62.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles.
CalRecycle’s approval of the 2018-2022 stewardship proposal allows CARE, in partnership with the state and carpet recycling industry, to continue robust efforts to divert even more used carpet from the state’s landfills.
CRI celebrates CalRecycle’s decision and stands ready to work with CARE, the Legislature and California consumers on a systematic program that further achieves our shared carpet recycling goals in an economically and environmentally beneficial manner.
About the Carpet and Rug Institute
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is the leading industry source for science-based information and insight on how carpet and rugs create a better environment – for living, working, learning and healing. CRI's mission is to serve the carpet industry and the public by providing facts that help people make informed choices. Its best practices promote a balance between social, economic and environmental responsibility for the long term. CRI does this for its industry, yet it strives to be a model corporate citizen for all industries.