CARE introduced micro grants ($15,000 each) in 2017 in order to promote the additional* collection and reuse of California post-consumer carpet (PCC). Micro grants are awarded for infrastructure projects and/or purchase of equipment that supports the operational logistics of properly collecting and/or reusing California PCC.
Five grants awarded in 2021’s Cycle 4 demonstrate the positive impact of relatively small grants on the larger carpet recycling ecosystem. Funds were used for containers, machinery and a cement pad, all of which allowed businesses to collect more carpet so that it could be recycled. Together, these five grants led to nearly 2 million additional pounds of carpet collected in the first year of operations:
Aquafil Carpet Recycling, San Diego
For collection containers to provide on-site service to carpet retailers and other flooring stores who wish to source separate PCC for recycling.
DC16 JATTF, Fremont, CA
Wrapping machinery financed with a CARE micro grant allowed District Council 16 union installers and trainers to stack, strap and wrap post-consumer carpet tile for recycling or reuse.
Funds paid for a tile weighing and wrapping machine that allows union-based installers and trainers to stack, strap and wrap post-consumer carpet tile for recycling or reuse. The machine also weighs material to provide the construction industry with proof of recycling.
Hayward Transfer Station, Hayward
Specialized containers allow for on-site service to carpet retailers and other flooring stores that wish to source separate PCC for recycling.
Funds were awarded for collection containers to provide on-site service to carpet retailers and other flooring stores who wish to source separate PCC for recycling.
Rivera’s Fine Flooring, Morgan Hill
A cement pad infrastructure improvement at this CARE drop-off site allowed Rivera’s to keep PCC clean and organize the site for incoming traffic.
Funds were allocated for a cement pad to keep PCC clean and dry for recycling at this new public drop-off site. Rivera’s also has plans to construct a weather cover.
Serv-Wel, Los Angeles
This grant funded the construction of three large containers for collection of PCC at a regional distribution center for carpet in Southern California. The PCC is then hauled to a processor for recycling.
11 Million Pounds Collected
As of Fall 2022, 32 micro grants totaling $430,000 have been awarded by CARE since 2017, resulting in the collection of approximately 11 million additional pounds of carpet per year.
CARE expects to continue micro grant cycles for the foreseeable future. Retailers, haulers and other businesses involved in collecting carpet for recycling or reuse are encouraged to apply.
For latest details, see CarpetRecovery.org/CA-Grants
* The definition of “additional” under this program is PCC that was previously sent to landfill, alternative daily cover, waste-to-energy, kiln or used for carpet-as-alternative-fuel.
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