URGENT NOTICE: PENDING CALRECYCLE APPROVAL, THE CARPET DIFFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT WILL INCREASE ON FEBRUARY 1, 2025.
CARE has made an urgent request to CalRecycle to approve an increase in the carpet differential assessment. This is to alert you that, pending CalRecycle approval:
The Carpet Differential Assessment will increase on February 1, 2025.
California carpet legislation requires CARE to implement a differential assessment on each square yard of carpet sold that reflects its cost burden to recycle. The assessment funds the subsidies for collection, processing and recycling of used carpet and carpet tile, along with technical assistance, drop-off site support and education/outreach. This increase is necessary to ensure this continued support of the carpet recycling industry in California. The new levels are:
The assessments are based on two factors:
- Broadloom vs. carpet tile. All broadloom (residential and commercial) will be treated the same.
- Post-Consumer Content. The law requires that we provide recognition of carpet products containing post-consumer (PC) content. This requirement is reflected in the assessment being reduced by 9 cents/square yard for any product, broadloom or carpet tile, that has 10% or more certified PC content. Carpet mills are responsible for advising retailers on which products qualify in terms of post-consumer content.
NOTE: Compliance with the assessments is compulsory under California law.
CalRecycle provides enforcement oversight of California’s carpet stewardship law. CalRecycle evaluates compliance through various means including, but not limited to, site inspections and documentation checks. Failure to comply with requirements of the carpet law and/or submitting false or misleading information may result in penalties of up to $10,000 per day. See details about the carpet stewardship law and monitor updates at CalRecycle.ca.gov/Carpet.
As a reminder, CalRecycle requires:
- All invoices must have the assessment clearly and correctly labeled as a separate line item.
- Retailers must purchase carpet from carpet manufacturers in compliance with the carpet stewardship law. See the list on the CalRecycle website here: CalRecycle.ca.gov/Carpet/MfrBrands
- Retailers are required by law to monitor CalRecycle’s website to determine if the sale of a manufacturer’s carpet is in compliance with the carpet stewardship law.
- Retailers must retain records for three fiscal years.
If you have not already, please email Feedback@CarpetRecovery.org to add your name to the list for updates. Updates and further information are posted to CarpetRecovery.org/Assessment. Comments, concerns, and suggestions may be sent to CalRecycle at Carpet@CalRecycle.ca.gov and to CARE at Feedback@CarpetRecovery.org.