Contact: Jeremy Stroop, Carpet America Recovery Effort (706) 428-2127

Dalton, GA, May 13, 2008 – Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) seeks public comment on its 2007 Independent Assessment, which evaluates the progress made by CARE to divert carpet from landfills, and identifies barriers toward meeting its Negotiated Outcome Goals. The Assessment is available for viewing on www.carpetrecovery.org. The public comment period will be open for 30 days to all interested parties.

In 2002 a joint industry-government team formed CARE under a Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU), and made provisions for a five-year Independent Assessment.

The Independent Assessment gauges progress using six evaluation criteria set forth in the MOU:

(1) Quantitative assessment of diversion of post-consumer carpet (PCC)

(2) Assessment of the economic results/benefits of PCC activity

(3) Assessment of efforts by each of the parties to the MOU (CARE, CRI, carpet industry, government entities, and non-governmental organizations)

(4) Thorough assessment of efforts and results to date, including recommendations for changes in strategies to reach the Negotiated Outcomes Goals

(5) Assessment of planned efforts by each of the parties

(6) Assessment of resources saved from diversion of PCC, including quantification of Greenhouse gas and other environmental savings

CARE 2007 Independent Assessment (385KB)

CARE (www.carpetrecovery.org), a voluntary initiative of the carpet industry and government, focuses on developing carpet reclamation and recycling methods to prevent carpet from burdening landfills.

The public comment period is open for 30 days. Interested parties are encouraged to provide public comment at the following link:

CARE Independent Assessment Public Comment Form

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a joint industry-government effort to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going to landfills. CARE was established 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.