California’s carpet recycling program surpasses goals

“2021 was another year of major progress in the face of multiple challenges,” says CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples in a release. “I credit the hard work of the recyclers, retailers, installers and drop-off site staff. Over the years, we have built a robust system for collecting and recycling carpets that is unequaled anywhere. This is the first time the program has met the ambitious goals set forth in the five-year plan, and we are on track to continue this amazing progress.”  

According to the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s 2021 Annual Report:  

• 88.5 million pounds of postconsumer carpet collected across the state;  

• 67 million pounds of recycled output produced;  

• more than 81 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions (MTC02E) were saved;  

• $23.1 million in subsidies were paid to support collectors, processors and manufacturers of recycled carpet material; and  

• more than $1.5 million in grant funding was invested in 2021. Since 2017, CARE has paid more than $9.5 million to grow carpet recycling via grants for capital improvement, product testing and collection expansion.  

By the end of 2021, 94 CARE-sponsored public drop-off sites were located in the state, with all 58 counties having at least one. This is an increase of more than 200 percent from 44 public drop-off sites in 2017.  

Through subsidies, grants and technical assistance, CARE supports increased collection and processing of carpets into products containing recycled carpet material. Twenty-seven vendors currently incorporate carpet in about 103 products, including 10 vendors in California. These products have industrial and retail applications, like automotive plastic components, rubber transition mats, building materials and absorbency products.  

Download the 2021 California Carpet Stewardship Program Annual Report here.