Carpet America Recovery Effort

Developing Market Based Solutions for the Recycling & Reuse of Post-Consumer Carpet

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CARE Testing and Innovation & Design Grants Announced

The California Carpet Stewardship Program has funded three new grants for a total of $142,000 to advance innovative recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet (PCC). Two of the projects, undertaken by Brightworks Sustainability and Tarkett in partnership with Georgia Tech, were awarded under Cycle 3 of CARE’s Innovation & Design grants. Brightworks will lead a Circularity Optimization Study, engaging stakeholders across the supply chain to inform a new “Design for Circularity” guide. Tarkett, in partnership with Georgia Tech and Mycocycle, will test a mycelium-based bioremediation process potentially capable of breaking down 100% of PCC, including traditionally non-recyclable components like backings and adhesives, to create feedstock for new carpet manufacturing.

3d printer with final product

River AI Design uses 3D printing to incorporate PCC fibers into architectural products.

The third grant, under Cycle 6B of CARE’s Product Testing program, was awarded to River AI Design Corp for developing and certifying architectural products made from recycled PCC using large-scale 3D printing. This Los Angeles–based project will transform California-sourced carpet into durable planters, acoustic panels, and outdoor furniture. 

These three projects exemplify CARE’s commitment to fostering practical, scalable solutions that increase carpet recycling rates, expand end-market demand, and keep valuable materials in circulation. For more details on these and other initiatives, as well as information on open grant solicitations, please visit the CARE grants page  or email Grants Manager Abbie Beane.

Capital and Testing Grantees Announced

September 2020 Update

CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program has awarded two additional Capital Improvement Grants under Cycle 4A, and three Micro Grants for Collection and Reuse, labeled Cycle 3M. (See previously awarded grants below.) The Cycle 4A grants total $334,952, and the Cycle 3M grants total $38,234. 
The capital projects are expected to result in an additional 12 million pounds of California PCC collections through September 30, 2021 and the micro projects are expected to result in an additional 900,000 pounds of California post-consumer carpet collection through June 30, 2021.
Cycle 4A
Green Waste Carpet Recycling, San Jose, CA: Investment in equipment to expand collection of new California-sourced PCC pounds. This project includes piloting a collection strategy for small retailers ($70,952).
Hayward Transfer Station, Hayward, CA: Investment in equipment to expand collection of new California-sourced PCC pounds ($264,000).
Cycle 3M
916 Floors, Roseville, CA: Funds the purchase of a specialized trailer that will allow flooring contractors to source-separate PCC at job sites and haul it directly to a recycler ($15,000).
Bay Counties SMaRT, Sunnyvale, CA: Funds the purchase of a 40-yard roll-off container with a lid for this CARE drop-off site to collect and keep PCC dry year-round for self-hauling to a recycler ($10,234).
Quality Floor Removal, Roseville, CA: Funds the purchase of a specialized trailer that will allow flooring contractors to source-separate PCC at job sites and haul it directly to a recycler ($13,000).
CARE may re-release grant funds for capital improvements and/or post-consumer carpet (PCC) collection projects during the fall. CARE’s Cycle 3M will remain open to California-based projects, which may apply for up to $15,000 through 2020.

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From August 2020:

CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program has awarded three capital improvement grants, under Cycle 4A, and three product testing grants, under Cycle 3B. The capital improvement grants total $1,260,000 and the testing grants total $240,000.

The grantees are:

Aquafil Group, Phoenix, AZ: Use of densifying system to recycle California-sourced polypropylene material. Awarded $260,000.

Los Angeles Fiber, Vernon, CA: Equipment to enable the processing of commercial broadloom California post-consumer carpet (PCC). Awarded $500,000.

Wellman Advanced Materials, Johnsonville, SC: Recycling of California PA66 commercial PCC using new technology. Awarded $500,000.

GC Products, Lincoln, CA: Testing replacement of silica aggregate with PC4 (carpet backing material) aggregate in architectural products for indoor and outdoor use. Awarded $40,000.

necoPlastics, Columbus, OH: Testing the addition of densified California PCC material to concrete and asphalt. Awarded $100,000.

ReFiber, Sacramento, CA: Continued testing of California PCC in stormwater filtration applications. Awarded $100,000.

The capital projects are expected to produce an additional 17.5 million pounds of recycled California PCC output through the grant term, which ends on September 30, 2021.

CARE expects to approve additional capital improvement grants this month and may re-release grant funds for capital improvements and/or PCC collection projects during the month of September. CARE’s Micro Grants for Collection and Reuse, labeled Cycle 3M, remain open to California-based projects, which may apply for up to $15,000 through 2020.

Learn more on our Grants page.

CARE Invites Input on New Grants Program

CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program  has announced a new pilot grant program to provide funding to establish, increase, improve and enhance California-generated post‑consumer carpet collection, recycling, diversion, and utilization of recycled content product manufacturing. The Cycle 1 Pilot funding will seek proposals from eligible applicants for capital to establish new facilities or expand existing capacity and throughput; funds are also available to support product testing, in line with Program goals. Read the draft notices here:

CCSP_2015_Capital Improvement Grant – Draft

CCSP 2015 Grant Solicitation – Product Testing – Draft

CARE will hold a webinar on Wednesday, November 18 to describe the proposed pilot program and gain stakeholder input prior to releasing the final grant notice. All stakeholders are invited to register for the one-hour webinar here.

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