Better than 4.7 billion kilos of carpets and rugs are despatched to landfills yearly within the USA alone, primarily based on the Carpet and Rug Institute. That’s a whopping 1 p.c of the waste stream, by weight, and the nylon, polyester, chemical compounds and completely different provides don’t decompose merely.
There’s good news, nonetheless. Whereas most carpet producers have however to maneuver pure fibers into the mainstream, they’re shifting synthetics out of the waste stream. Enterprise reps and authorities corporations have agreed to a voluntary initiative, the Carpet America Restoration Effort (CARE), which targets to divert one-fourth to one-third of waste carpet into recycling or reuse by 2012–an infinite enhance from the current decide of 4 p.c.
Entrepreneurs are discovering strategies to make the reclamation worthwhile. Used carpet fibers are being recycled into new carpet, padding, and backing; they’re moreover going into resin for automotive elements, railroad ties, and even reusable “straw bales” on constructing web sites.
Discovering a used carpet assortment web site isn’t easy. Producers similar to Shaw and InterfaceFLOR are providing and even guaranteeing restoration of their merchandise. Study collectively along with your native household hazardous waste specialist, sanitation division or recycler. Or go to the CARE site for various leads.