Californians want to know what happens to their old carpet. This bulky material takes up a lot of space in our landfills, and stays there, unchanged, for hundreds of years. But just as we recycle cans and bottles, there are ways to recycle carpet, too.
The California Carpet Stewardship Program is working to find environmentally-friendly uses for carpet. Carpet that is recycled can be made into new products. See our Buy Recycled Products page.
You can help:
Buy wisely.
Ask your retailer about eco-friendly carpet and fiber underlayment. Look for products made with recycled carpet content and that can be easily recycled at the end of life. When buying carpet, you pay the carpet assessment that is required by California law. These funds support carpet recycling in the state.
Make it last.
Taking good care of your carpet will make it last longer and keep your home healthier. See the Carpet and Rug Institute for tips on proper cleaning and maintenance.
Reuse.
Old carpet, including carpet tile, is useful in laundry rooms, workshops, garages, pet pens and other areas. Carpet squares can be useful sound buffer pads between a washer and dryer, and can be helpful as furniture moving pads (fiber side down). Learn more about Reuse.
Donate.
Your discarded carpet in good condition could be someone else’s treasure. Contact local thrift stores or community groups to see if they accept donated carpet. List your old carpet with a service like Freecycle or Nextdoor and help your neighbor.
Recycle right.
Ask your retailer or contractor to recycle your old carpet during installation. To find a carpet collection site in your area, visit our drop-off site map.
Learn more.
Carpet recycling is a complex business. To learn more about how carpet gets recycled in California, keep in touch!
- See our brochure here for more about recycling carpet in California.
- Email us at CA@CarpetRecovery.org
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