Carpet Diversion Grows, Recycling Slips in 2013 – Study

Carpet diverted from landfills increased to 14 percent in 2013 from 10 percent in 2012, but carpet actually recycled fell to 5 percent from 8 percent, according to an annual study by a leading carpet recycling and diversion organization.

Total gross collection of carpet that was diverted reached 534 million pounds, an increase of 52 percent from 352 million pounds in 2012, according to the report by Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint government-industry non-profit organization.

But a new method of calculation was used in 2013, based on an engineering mass balance, the report said. For the first time the latest year’s diversion figures included a landfill category that the survey identified as including PCC (post-consumer carpet) and process waste. That amounted to 254 million pounds.

Without that amount, diversion totaled 480 million pounds, or 36.4 percent higher than 2012.

Post-consumer carpeting recycled totaled 197 million pounds in 2013, for a recycling rate of 5 percent. In 2012 the total recycled amounted to 299 million pounds.

Dalton, Ga.-based CARE surveyed its 450 members, led by carpet makers and carpet recyclers.

Total post-consumer discards, based on sales, were estimated at 3.7 billion pounds.

Both the recycling and diversion rates for carpeting in 2002, the first year CARE kept records, were 1 percent.