As part of CARE’s ongoing effort to increase the recycling of convention carpet and carpet used during trade shows and events, CARE partnered with the Anaheim Convention Center in 2023 to recycle convention carpet after one of their massive events.
Every year, about 5 billion pounds of carpet end up in landfills. CARE is working to find ways to divert used carpet from landfills and turn it into a renewable resource to help create a more sustainable environment. Since carpet is made from bulky, fossil-fuel-based materials, it takes up a lot of space in landfills where it remains unchanged for hundreds of years.
In 2023, Jeff Byrne, Facilities and Sustainability Manager at the Anaheim Convention Center (ACC), and Rob Thiess, Product and Market Development Manager at CARE, collaborated to further the ACC’s sustainability and recycling initiatives for the annual Orange County (OC) Auto Show.
OC Auto Show attendees explore new car models from various manufacturers, with activities for the whole family. Carpet at the OC Auto Show, as at most other events, is used to hide electrical cables, provide a softer surface for staff and attendees to stand, and to showcase presentations at the booths.
Rob reached out to Jeff to discuss how to recycle the carpet after the event, knowing that convention centers do not have the capacity to permanently house large containers to recycle their carpet after an event. Although as Jeff stated, “Ideally, we would love to have the bins at our facility.”
After developing a strategy to recycle the show’s carpet, CARE coordinated with the convention center’s hauler to provide the recycling containers to the ACC and then take them to the recycling facility.
As carpet was being removed from the facility, CARE helped ensure it was free of debris, prepared and rolled, then loaded into the recycling containers. This process is necessary for the hauler to weigh and properly distribute the carpet for recycling.
Together, CARE and the ACC successfully recycled nearly four 40-yard containers of carpet —12 tons of carpet total! The recycled carpet was later converted into carpet underlayment and home sound-deadening insulation products.
The Anaheim Convention Center’s continued sustainability and carpet recycling efforts are truly astounding, and we thank them for their continued efforts and partnership. CARE’s collaboration with convention centers is an ongoing effort to help convention centers achieve huge wins like this with the Anaheim Convention Center.
For more information about convention center recycling with CARE, please email Rob Thiess.