CARE Reports Less Diversion, More Members

Dalton, GA, May 1, 2012 -- CARE members diverted 333 million pounds of carpet from the landfill in 2011, a decrease of approximately 1% versus 2010, according the latest CARE annual report.

However, the non-profit carpet recycling group increased its membership to over 400, a 17% gain.

Of the carpet diverted, 250 million pounds were recycled back into carpet and other consumer products. To date, CARE members have kept 2.3 billion pounds of waste carpet out of landfills since CARE was founded in 2002.

These results were presented at the organization's Tenth Annual Conference held April 25 through April 27 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in Coronado, California.

Other milestones for CARE in the past year include:

Development of a more accurate formula for calculating diversion and recycling rates based on actual carpet sales in the U.S.

The CARE Board of Directors introduced updated its mission, vision, and core values statements.

Creation of the CARE Certified Collectors Program. Launched at the 2011 Annual Meeting, there are currently 75 certified collectors listed on the CARE website.

In addition, 2011 was the first year CARE served as the stewardship organization for California's AB 2398 carpet recycling law.

Eighty carpet manufacturers participated in the CARE Stewardship Plan.

CARE Executive Director Georgina Sikorski said, "While CARE members did not see growth in carpet diversion or recycling in 2011 versus 2010, the results were excellent, in light of weaker demand for recycled material both internationally and within the US. CARE members continue to invest and expand their facilities in anticipation of future growth and demand for new products made with post-consumer recycled content."