The survey, released by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) at the group’s annual conference, shows that of the total amount diverted from landfills, 194.3 million pounds was reported being recycled. Compared to 2004, that represents a 97 percent increase in recycling.
The total amount of carpet diverted from landfills since CARE started calculating numbers in 2002 is 483.7 million pounds.
“The year 2005 will be remembered as a very exciting year for the CARE organization if for no other reason than its bottom line. When we look back in the years ahead, I feel it will be significant that 2005 was the year we first starting seeing the fruits of our efforts,” says Robert Peoples, executive director of CARE.
People says he expects the amount of carpet diverted from landfills will again double in 2006.
CARE was formed as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU), a national agreement signed by members of the carpet industry, representatives of government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and non-governmental organizations. CARE's mission is to foster market-based solutions for recovering value from discarded carpet to meet the recycling and reuse goals set forth in the MOU. CARE has been charged with the task of providing an annual report on the progress of the goals set forth in the MOU, which includes an ultimate 40 percent diversion rate of carpet to landfills by the year 2012.
Survey data was compiled via a confidential survey administered by Weston Solutions and is part of the group’s Annual Report. The report also offers updates on market development opportunities, quantities of discarded carpet diverted from landfills, successes and obstacles encountered, and related state and federal efforts.
