Illinois Firm Enters Carpet Recycling

Crystal Lake, IL, June 27, 2006--Most people don't immediately consider the environment when replacing the carpet in their basement or renovating the second floor with a new, wall-to-wall carpet, according to the Northwest Herald. But 5.26 billion pounds of carpet will be discarded in U.S. landfills this year, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the national trade association representing the industry. Haig Haleblian, owner of Exceed Flooring and Surfaces in Crystal Lake, has launched a recycling effort that would put a dent in the 2 percent share of landfill waste made up by carpet. Haleblian is one of a growing number of local business owners and agencies offering opportunities for niche recycling on a residential and commercial scale. Haleblian joined a group of several businesses nationwide in creating Environmental Recovery & Consolidation Services LLC, which collects used carpet for free from customers and for a cost from businesses. "This is really a relatively new industry," Haleblian said. It also is challenging. The recyclers must collect the carpet or carpet cushion, then use a pricey infrared tool to determine the carpet's fiber and sort the materials according to it. Finally, they bail the materials and, once they have a full truckload, send it sources who can use the specific fibers. Recycled carpet consumers are not necessarily carpet manufacturers, but companies making plastic piping, insulation or plastic lumber, Haleblian said, adding that manufacturers in China have shown a strong interest in using the fibers to make plastic molds. "I've been working on this for 13 years," the business owner said. The Illinois Recycling Association recently gave an award to Falcon Waste & Recycling Inc., of Woodstock for its recycling efforts. Falcon primarily performs industrial recycling of construction materials. The company was the first in the state to recycle asphalt roofing shingles, said owner Kathy Powles, which is ground up and sold for reuse as material for driveways, parking lots and construction sites. "Kathy has been very instrumental in advancing commercial recycling in Illinois," said Mike Mitchell, executive director of the Illinois Recycling Association. She recently successfully fought the state's re-classification of her business as waste handling, which involves costly permits, rather than recycling. "I wanted to call it the 'don't take no for an answer' award," Mitchell said. Powles, who founded the company nine years ago, said the biggest challenge in recruiting commercial recyclers is a lack of sufficient information and financial incentive. "Everybody needs to be more educated," Powles said, noting that employers who may be environmentally minded still need employees who are willing to participate and sort materials. Lynn Rotunno, program and membership coordinator for the McHenry County Defenders, which runs a countywide recycling program, said the group is making an strong effort to encourage business recycling. "There are a lot of creative things going on right now," Rotunno said. "Electronic recycling is a big thing." The Recycling Directory for McHenry County, in its fourth edition this year, lists local options for recycling everything from aerosol cans to asphalt, from bubble wrap to computer software, and from water heaters to motor oil. A directory shows that businesses can recycle grease, tires and demolition debris.