California to require recycled carpet in government buildings

California has established the California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard to reduce the amount of dangerous organic compounds that seep into the air from new carpet, according to a report in the Waste Business Journal. Starting September 1, all carpet installed in the thousands of state buildings must contain at least 10 percent recycled materials, which can come from old carpets or other recyclables. The standard is the latest step in implementing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Green Building Initiative, designed to improve the energy and environmental performance of new and existing state buildings.