Background

Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures U.S. EPA

This annual report describes the waste stream in the U.S. based on data collected since 1960. The accuracy of the data on carpet discards and recycling has been questioned, but there is no other study that offers a national perspective or data. The figures do provide a useful historical perspective that is useful for establishing trends in types of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated and in the ways that MSW is managed.

Procurement/Purchasing and Care

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines U.S. EPA

Purchasing recommendations for recycled-content polyester carpet for light- and moderate-wear applications.

Related Associations

American Plastics Council – Recycled Plastic Products and Markets Databases
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO)
Carpet Recycling UK – Carpet Recycling UK is a trade association which works to increase the recycling of carpets across the UK.
The Carpet and Rug Institute
Carpet Cushion Council
INFORM – an independent, non-profit research organization that examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health. INFORM’s goal is to identify ways of doing business that ensure environmentally sustainable economic growth.
Northeast Recycling Council Get the Facts, Not the Fiction: A Seminar on How to Effectively Assist Recycling Entrepreneurs (for financiers – public and private – includes a detailed briefing on how recycling companies work and what types of financing they need)
Northeast Recycling Investment Forum (where recycling companies present their business plan to potential investors)

Product Stewardship

Product stewardship means that all parties involved in designing, manufacturing, selling and using a product take responsibility for environmental impacts at every stage of that product’s life.