Carpet America Recovery Effort

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California Carpet Stewardship Assessment to Increase on January 1, 2017

Increased assessment funds will support carpet recovery efforts through subsidies, grants and other efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2016

CONTACT
Robert Peoples
bpeoples@carpetrecovery.org
706.428.2127

Sacramento, CA-The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has announced an updated assessment fee of 25 cents per square yard on all carpet sold or shipped in California, effective January 1, 2017. The rate is an increase from the previous assessment of 20 cents per square yard. The assessment is collected by the retailer from the consumer, and is then remitted to CARE by way of the carpet manufacturers.
“We are pleased that the California program is seeing a steady increase in recycled pounds this year and expects dramatic growth in incentive payouts beginning in 2017,” notes CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples. “To meet financial obligations to make these payouts, it is necessary to collect additional funds through the assessment.” CARE was pre-approved to implement this increase if deemed necessary, as approved by CalRecycle on January 26, 2016.
CARE employs the assessment funds for the following efforts:
  • Ongoing subsidies to carpet recyclers and processors, to support these businesses at a difficult time for the recycling industry in general and the nascent carpet recycling ecosystem in particular. The subsidies help these businesses stay competitive in challenging economic times.
  • A newly implemented grants program in 2016. To date, $2 million in grants have been approved to encourage investment in carpet recycling facilities and accelerate the development and marketing of products made from recycled carpet fiber. An additional $500,000 grant program this fall will subsidize the public procurement of products made with post-consumer recycled carpet. One hundred percent of these dollars will remain in the State.
  • Expansion of the carpet drop-off site program, with a goal of establishing at least one site in every county in California by July 2017. See an interactive map of drop-off sites here.
  • Continuing education/outreach efforts to carpet retailers, installers and consumers to encourage carpet recycling.
Since July 1, 2011, all California carpet manufacturers and retailers have been required under carpet stewardship law AB 2398 to add an assessment fee onto all carpet sold in the state. The law is designed to increase landfill diversion and recycling of post-consumer carpet generated in California. CARE administers the California Carpet Stewardship Program, which is charged with meeting the requirements for carpet recycling set by AB 2398. In 2015 alone, 103 million pounds of carpet was diverted from the California waste stream through the efforts of retailers, installers, manufacturers, recyclers and the California Carpet Stewardship Program.
The CARE website offers free support and resources for retailers, including email notifications and a 30-minute informational webinar on the assessment on Wednesday, November 16, at 10 a.m. PST. Register here. For more information, visit the CARE website.
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CARE To Review California Subsidy Program Changes

CARE is currently conducting a review of all California subsidy offerings for CSEs, Processors and Manufacturers. Effective Q4 2017 (12 months from the close of Q3 2016), CARE may enact adjustments to subsidy program offerings resulting in reductions, eliminations or other changes to specific subsidy per pound payout amounts.

CARE retains the ability to adjust subsidies upward at any time, subject to other requirements or limitations within the currently approved Plan.

The full notice of subsidy updates can be found here.

Products with Recycled Post-Consumer Carpet Available from California Companies

products made with post consumer carpet in CaliforniaA variety of products using recycled California post-consumer carpet as feedstock are now available from four in-state companies: EcoStrate (signage), Reliance Carpet Cushion, SafePath (ramps, walkway systems) and Sierra Mat & Rubber (wheel stops, pavers, mats.)

These companies are listed on key databases maintained by CalRecycle to encourage the acquisition of products containing recycled-material content:

The Recycled-Content Product Manufacturers (RCPM) directory showcases innovative recycled-content products made by California manufacturers who use recycled waste as a feedstock.

Recycle Store lists manufacturers who use California waste as a feedstock, and are located within a Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ.)

CARE offers grants to support the procurement of post-consumer carpet products by California public entities and their contractors. The deadline to apply is September 30 – learn more here.

Additional products using California post-consumer carpet are also available. For more information on products containing post-consumer carpet, see the CARE website.

California Team Promotes Carpet Recycling at CRRA 2016

The CARE team at CRRA
CARE CA team members Kelsey, Lisa, Abbie and Jared at the booth

The CARE California team presented a session and participated as an exhibitor at this month’s California Resource Recovery Association conference in Sacramento. The Conference draws hundreds of city, county and other government workers along with representatives from businesses and non-profits to network and learn about all aspects of California’s reduce-reuse-recycle-compost economy.

At the booth, the team fielded questions about carpet recycling and diversion from the hundreds of attendees, and encouraged local government agency representatives to spread the word about carpet recycling in their area through the CARE drop-off site map, brochure, the Buy Recycled campaign, and other resources.

On Tuesday, August 9, a session on EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and carpet included presentations by California Program Manager Brennen Jensen, Market Development Consultant Mike Tinney and Senior Associate Lisa Mekis. Brennen gave an overview of the current state of carpet recycling in California, including some tough macro-economic challenges, such as the recent drop in the price of oil, which have hurt recycling of many materials in California. Mike introduced the first Double Green products, containing both carpet and one other material (such as recycled tires) diverted from the California waste stream. He noted how CARE’s new procurement grant program will support California public agencies and their contractors to purchase products made with post-consumer recycled-carpet content. Lisa addressed how the local government representatives in the audience could increase and improve carpet recycling. She concluded by noting the steps local government recycling coordinators and other public works staff could take to work with CARE:

  • Become a CARE Carpet Recycling Drop-Off Site
  • Promote Existing Drop-Off Sites
  • Inform Retailers, Installers & Consumers
  • Buy Recycled Carpet Content Products
  • Apply for Procurement Grant Opportunities
  • Request Education & Outreach in Their Area

View the presentations:

California Carpet Stewardship Program – Pathway to a New Plan

California Carpet Stewardship Program: Recycled Carpet Products in California

California Carpet Stewardship Program: Local Government Tools

 

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