CARE Grants: Investments in Collection, Recycling and Market Development Show Promising Results

CARE Grantee Swisstrax is testing varying percentages of PC4, PET and PP in their existing flooring tiles with success.

Grants are a valuable investment in growing recycled output as well as the market for products made with post-consumer carpet. This growth is what pulls an increasing volume of carpet into the recycling stream and away from landfills each year. CARE’s grants have had, and continue to have, tremendous impact on the health of the carpet recycling industry; however, it can take months or even years for the full impact of the grants to be realized among carpet recycling stakeholders.

In just its first two cycles, the CARE grants program has awarded $5.9 million to 8 organizations in Cycle 1 and 18 organizations in Cycle 2. Grant amounts ranging from $15,000 micro grants to $500,000 capital improvement grants support improved carpet collection, new product and application testing, and major infrastructure and equipment purchases. These investments are expected to help the recycled output rate rise to meet the goal of 24% by January 1, 2020.

The first two CARE grant cycles to date have seen significant results:

Cycle 1 Capital Improvement Grants