Finding outlets for used commercial carpet tile has been challenging, but progress is being made. The first best destination for used carpet is reuse, and CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program played a part in a recent reuse project that can serve as a model for deconstruction projects in the state and beyond.
Finding a New Home for Used Carpet
For the deconstruction of offices on California Street in downtown San Francisco, the global architectural firm Gensler partnered with general contractor Novo Construction to explore the reuse process and opportunities for the 5,500 pounds of carpet that was being removed.
CARE project consultant and carpet industry veteran Teddy Stray explained, “We have found that working one-on-one with general contractors and building owners is the best way to reach lasting solutions for commercial carpet reuse. It takes cooperation and collaboration among property owners, contractors, architects and recyclers, but the effort is worth it!”
Marcus Hopper, Project Director at Gensler noted, “Gensler has long been a proponent of material reuse, and Novo Construction proved to be a great partner for the project, adopting a solution-oriented approach from the very beginning.”
Novo Construction Project Manager Gene Au said, “A challenge we overcame was where to palletize the carpet. Our elevator was just a tad too small, so we worked with Columbia to find a lay-down area where we could palletize the carpet for pick up.”
Repurpose Earth, a company with carpet tile collection hubs in southern California and the Bay Area, delivered the tear-out carpet to a local charity for reuse. Read more about their work in this case study.
The Work Continues
Property owner Columbia Property Trust was pleased to facilitate the reuse of the carpet. Project Manager Michael Huang of Columbia Property Trust noted, “Columbia Property Trust has long been an advocate for sustainable practices, and we’ve been exploring opportunities to incorporate these principles into our construction standards. Through our evaluation, we found that the cost difference between demolition and disposal fees versus the labor required to prep and palletize salvaged carpet products is minimal. As a result, Columbia has decided to partner with CARE and implement this waste diversion program across all projects on Columbia properties throughout the Bay Area.”
CARE continues to connect construction projects with reuse and recycling outlets. In 2024, the California program achieved 2.9 million pounds of reuse, up some 350% from 2021. The California Program is on track to meet the Five-Year Plan’s reuse goal of 2% of Recycled Output in 2025.
At the end of the project, the CARE team provided a certificate outlining project information and savings statistics.
Commercial broadloom or carpet tile jobs of more than 5,000 square yards may be eligible for the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s free takeback program. Please complete the Project Takeback form to request a takeback. Contact California Carpet Stewardship Program co-Director Rob Thiess with questions.