New California Carpet Recycling Law Could be Model for Other States

Date: November 1, 2010

Source: News Room

California has signed a new law that creates a consumer-funded system for the recycling of all carpet sold in the state, estimated to represent 10% of the US market. Environmentalists and industry stakeholders, including the World Floor Coverings Association (WFCA), say it will likely serve as a model for other states wishing to divert carpet from landfills. Many environmentalists are also optimistic that the new product stewardship law (A.B. 2398) will serve as a model for other industries such as batteries, which are already recycled in Europe and Canada through product stewardship programs, and florescent light bulbs. The final law names the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) as the official organization to oversee the initiative following negotiations with industry that was initially concerned about a new bureaucracy. A.B. 2398, which was signed into law Sept. 30 by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, charges a 5-cent-per-yard after-tax fee on all carpet sold in the state after July 1, 2011. However, many feel that fee will certainly have to be increased to cover the actual costs of the program.

All money will go to CARE to distribute to manufacturers for the collection, transportation and eventual recycling of old carpet and to implement "early action measures that are consistent to achieve measurable improvements in the landfill diversion and recycling." In turn, CARE and manufacturers will have to report to California's waste department CalRecycle. Seven carpet recycling companies are already operating in California. According to CARE, nearly 100% of post-consumer carpet is recyclable.

Text of the new law can be viewed here: info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2351-2400/ab_2398_bill_20100913_enrolled.pdf.

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