Contact: Robert Peoples, Carpet America Recovery Effort (706) 428-2115

DALTON, GA, April 03, 2002 – The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) announces the launch of its website at www.carpetrecovery.org. CARE is a joint industry-government effort to develop market-based solutions for the recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet. CARE was established in January 2002 as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU), a national agreement signed by members of the carpet industry, representatives of government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and non-governmental organizations. CARE is funded and administered by the carpet industry.

The CARE website outlines the national goals for carpet recovery over a ten-year timeframe, as set forth by the MOU. By 2012, the carpet industry plans to achieve a recycling rate of 25% and landfill diversion rate of 40%.

The CARE website serves as a carpet recycling resource. Visitors can find key contacts and learn more about

• collecting and processing used carpet;
• developing new products made from used carpet;
• finding markets for recycled content products; and
• developing carpet recycling businesses.

Visitors can contact CARE through the website and sign up to receive email updates. Also included on the site is a history of the two-year negotiation process leading up to the establishment of the Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU). CARE will use its website to report on progress toward the national goals for carpet recovery, including an annual report to be published by March 31 of each year, starting in the year 2003.

The CARE website is maintained by The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), in Dalton, Georgia, with contributions and input from various CARE committee members. CRI is the national trade association for the carpet and rug industry. Its members are manufacturers and suppliers providing over 90% of all carpet produced in the United States.

Contact: Carpet America Recovery Effort, 800.882.8846