Grant Recipient: Zanker Recycling, Florin Perkins Disposal Site
Project Description/Goal: Post-consumer carpet (PCC) needs to be kept clean and dry year-round, including during the rainy season. Zanker Recycling added a cement pad and weather cover to divert more PCC away from landfill for recycling.
Location: Sacramento
Project Timeline: June-December 2017
Grant Amount and Match: $10,000 granted; $10,000 matched by grantee
Total Cost of Project: 20 hours to write and manage grant and initiate project. The total project cost, including materials and installation, was approximately $20,000.

Implementation Process: The structure was purchased from Versatube. “It was fairly simple to design and order the structure online,” said Abel Pereira, operations manager at Zanker Recycling. “Sierra National Construction prepared and installed the surface for the structure, including the asphalt setback to increase processing and tipping capacity. A reliable contractor was utilized to install the structure correctly.”
Project Challenges: There was one unforeseen issue during shipment of the structure. The vendor had to ship missing wall panels twice during the construction phase, delaying the completion of the structure by two months.
Project Benefits and Outcomes:
The installation of the structure and its setback from the existing operations area has increased tipping, processing and staging space suitable for keeping carpet clean and dry. Not only does the structure provide a dry staging and storage area, it also provides a shaded work space for the employees during the hot summer months.
It is projected that the new weather cover and pad will increase recycling at the facility by 525,000 pounds annually. There was minimal PCC landfilled due to rain in 2017/18 compared to the previous season.
Visit our Post Consumer Carpet Products page. PCC products: Visit the CARE Grants page.
This is one of a series of case studies that illustrate the impact of grant funding on the carpet recycling industry in California.
CARE will offer a Cycle 2 round of grants to support capital improvements and product testing in late 2017. Sign up for updates here.