The California Carpet Stewardship Program of CARE has released a Summary Report: Characterization of Carpet Constructions for California Carpet Recycling Facilities. Conducted by MSW Consultants, this study represents CARE’s most detailed look to date at the composition of post-consumer carpet (PCC) residues that remain after sorting at recycling facilities. This statewide effort involved four California recyclers.
The results show that approximately 6.3 percent of collected PCC was disposed of as residue in 2024, reflecting continued improvements in recycling efficiency. The study categorized twelve material types, including residential and commercial carpets, wool and jute products, carpet scraps, and non-carpet materials such as padding and flooring. The data also captures “basis for disposal” such as soiled/soaked, excessive glue, mixed fiber material and unacceptable backing type.
CARE plans to conduct this type of study on a biennial basis to monitor changes in the composition of California’s carpet waste stream and to support the development of circular carpet design strategies. By identifying the materials and conditions that most often lead to landfill disposal, the findings will help CARE and its partners target research, innovation, and investment toward new recycling technologies and end markets to advance California’s carpet recycling goals and waste diversion progress.