Carpet Diversion in UK Continues To Increase

London, England, Feb. 20, 2012 -- Waste carpet is emerging as a significant raw material resource according to latest figures from Carpet Recycling UK.

The group said that 66,000 tons were diverted from landfills last year, representing an increase in the diversion rate from 10% in 2010 to 16.5% in 2011.

This figure is fairly evenly split between recycle and reuse (32,000 tons) and energy recovery, mainly in cement kilns (34,000 tons).

The proportion of carpet sent for recycling has risen from 33% in 2010 to 48% in 2011 as new outlets have developed and established outlets have grown.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and testament to the on-going commitment and consistent efforts of all throughout the supply chain to make carpet recycling and diversion of this bulky waste from landfill a positive reality,” commented Laurance Bird, Director of CRUK, an association of companies with 12 core funders that actively support the development of carpet recycling.

Managed by Axion Consulting, CRUK was set up by industry leaders to develop viable solutions to the nearly half a million tons of carpet waste landfilled in the UK each year. CRUK targets include 25% landfill diversion by 2015.

Laurance said that recycling capacity has increased in response to the growth in specialist facilities able to handle carpets in reuse, recycling and energy recovery processes. “It is encouraging to see the growth in the use of carpet fibres for equestrian surfaces and felts. There are now 32 specialist outlets contributing to these total diversion routes.”