California Legislation Requires Carpet Recycling

By Emily CatacchioThe California Carpet Stewardship Bill (AB 2398) signed into law in October 2010 requires carpet retailers to help divert used carpet from landfills. Retailers are now required to create and implement a carpet-recycling plan to increase the percentage of post-consumer carpet diverted from the landfill. The nonprofit Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is developing a carpet stewardship program that retailers can choose to participate in to meet AB 2398 requirements; otherwise, retailers must submit their own diversion implementation plan—including consumer education, fees, progress measurement, and annual reporting—to the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle). Beginning July 1, 2011, California retailers will charge customers a fee of $0.05 per square yard for all new carpet purchased; the revenue will fund post-consumer carpet recycling measuers. CalRecycle will list compliant manufacturers on its website and enforce penalties for noncompliance. The Department of General Services will complete a study by January 1, 2014 with recommendations for changes to NSF/ANSI 140-2007 Standard, Platinum Level (a third-party, multi-attribute national standard for sustainable carpet) based on the outcomes of this program. For more information, visit www.carpetrecovery.org.