Allan Gerlat, News Editor

December 22, 2014

1 Min Read
Carpet Industry Unveils Voluntary Recycling, Diversion Program

The carpet industry has instituted a voluntary product stewardship (VPS) program to divert and recycle carpet, a policy that the Product Stewardship Institute Inc. (PSI) opposes as a move to avoid extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation.

The Carpet and Rug Institute and the Carpet America Recovery Effort unveiled the program, which provides a financial incentive for U.S. sorters who agree to support the VPS program rather than EPR, according to the Boston-based PSI in a news release. The VPS program also excludes sorters in California, where carpet EPR regulations are in effect.

"Clearly, carpet manufacturers spent significant time to develop this complex program to reduce the multi-million dollar cost that carpet waste imposes on taxpayers, and while we appreciate them taking some degree of responsibility, their purely voluntary approach is hardly a balanced and sustainable solution,” said Scott Cassel, PSI CEO.

The PSI facilitated a national carpet stewardship dialogue meeting that was boycotted by carpet manufacturers because legislation was part of the discussion.

The VPS program, which is expected to run for two years beginning in January, attempts to stimulated demand for scrap carpet.

Carpet currently is recycled at a 7.5 percent rate nationally.

 

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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