Following a solid performance in Q1 and Q2 2021, the California Program’s recycling rate for Q3 2021 was 28 percent, indicating that CARE could meet its target of 26 percent for the year – a major Program accomplishment. The recycling rate is based on the amount of carpet recycled as a percent of carpet discarded, not as a percent of carpet collected. In Q3, 78 percent of carpet collected was recycled.
- Gross collection increased to 24.9 million pounds for Q3.
- However, recycler costs have escalated dramatically for transportation, labor, utilities and lease rates.
- Subsidies paid to recyclers reached over $6.1 million.
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REMINDER: Differential Assessments Take Effect in April 2022
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CARE’s differential assessment plan, which CalRecycle has conditionally approved, will take effect on April 1, 2022. The differential assessment is based on two factors: material type, that is broadloom vs. tile, and the percent of post-consumer (PC) content in new carpet. The Plan has four levels of assessment:
- Broadloom, <10% PC content: $.35 per square yard
- Broadloom, > or = 10% PC content: $.33 per square yard
- Carpet Tile, <10% PC content: $.50 per square yard
- Carpet Tile, > or =10% PC content: $.48 per square yard
Carpet retailers in the state have been alerted by mail and email and are advised to begin planning immediately for the point-of-purchase changes needed to correctly assign the assessment and collect it from customers. Carpet mills will be responsible for advising retailers on which products qualify as having greater than 10 percent post-consumer material. CARE will supply point-of-purchase material as well as training support materials for sales staff in the new year.
Retailers are encouraged to visit the CARE website for the latest developments.
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REMINDER: Dec. 16 CalRecycle Public Workshop on Carpet Stewardship Program Goals
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CalRecycle will hold a public workshop on December 16th, 1:00 to 3:00PM, to gather public comments and input on draft goal concepts for the carpet stewardship program. An agenda and supporting documents for this workshop are posted on the CalRecycle website.
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Special COVID Subsidies Extended
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CARE is extending the special COVID Action Plan subsidies through the end of Q1 2022. As the industry recovers from the pandemic’s effects, CARE will continue support of the current subsidy program. In addition to the established subsidies, below are the current COVID Action Plan subsidies:
- Nylon 6 Tier 2: extra 15 cent/lb.
- Nylon 6,6 Tier 2: extra 3 cents/lb.
- PET Tier 1: extra 5 cent/lb.
- PP Tier 1: extra 5 cents/lb.
- Collectors: extra 2 cents/lb.
Separate from the COVID Action Plan, the carpet tile pilot “extra 20 cents per pound” for collection, reuse or recycling is also extended through March 31, 2022.
CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples noted, “Our COVID Action Plan is working in the face of pandemic impacts, supply chain challenges and the recent inflationary concerns. CARE feels it is in the best interest of the program to retain the current Plan status for another full quarter.”
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California Tops 90 CARE Drop-Off Sites
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As part of CARE’s efforts to increase carpet collection for recycling across the state, CARE is pleased to announce its latest public carpet recycling drop-off sites:
There are currently 91 CARE-supported public drop-off sites in the state, serving 55 counties.
CARE supports drop-off sites by providing at no cost:
- A container for collection,
- Third-party hauling to bring carpet material to recyclers,
- Promotional materials for local government and the hosting facility,
- Technical assistance from CARE staff and
- Ready access to micro grants that support site set-up and collection equipment/infrastructure.
To find the CARE-sponsored drop-off site closest to you, visit the drop-off site map here. If there is a location, such as a supply house, landfill, transfer station, or recycling facility that you feel would work well as a drop-off site for you and other flooring professionals near you, please email CARE with the facility's name and location. A CARE staff person will call you to discuss your volume, learn more about flooring professionals’ needs in your area and work toward finding a solution.
In addition to public drop-off sites, CARE works with the recyclers who operate more than 197 private network collection sites around the state.
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CARE and Lowe’s to Collaborate
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In an effort to recover and recycle even more carpet and pad, Lowe’s has announced plans to collaborate with CARE in hosting carpet/pad recycling collection containers at select warehouses of their contracted flooring installers across California, which will be open to all flooring professionals and homeowners in those regions. Stay tuned for more details in 2022. |
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CARE Partners with Floor Covering Installer Union
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This year, CARE has been working with District Council 16 to help train apprentice floor covering installers to understand how and where to recycle carpet. In addition to in-person training, this month CARE is shooting a video (see photo) to supplement and expand the current training. Stay tuned for more details in 2022.
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