Recycled-Content Carpeting

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Joyce Benson   Add a Comment |
Tag(s): Going Green, Green Furnishings, Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Global Warming

Americans replace approximately 5 billion pounds of carpet each year and most of it ends up in landfills. Thankfully, numerous companies are seeing the value in recycled carpet fibers (mostly nylon) to create new products, like: Geohay (a substitute for hay bales used on construction sites which can be reused numerous times); nylon resins; automotive parts; fencing; pallets; plywood-style sheet material; sound barriers; railroad ties; landscaping systems; plastic septic chamber systems; reinforcement to concrete, asphalt, and plastic; recyclable carpet backing and padding; and even new carpet.

Synthetic carpet is a petroleum-based product. It is estimated that carpet recycling programs can save more than 700,000 barrels of oil per year, conserving 4.4 trillion BTUs of energy. Energy savings translate into reduced pollutants as well, minimizing air and greenhouse gas emissions.

So, how do you get your old carpets recycled? Find carpet reclamation partners in your area here. They will either rip out and/or collect your old carpet for recycling purposes.

Some carpet manufacturers are conducting innovative ways to prevent non-degradable, non-renewable materials from entering our landfills. By making carpets from recycled plastic (mainly PET plastic soda bottles), they use our resources efficiently and spew out fewer emissions than conventional carpet manufacturing. Another advantage is improved indoor air quality in your home or office due to less toxic off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Recycled-content carpets are similar in look, feel, and price of virgin-fiber carpet. It is said to be more resilient and colorfast than virgin-fiber carpet, as well. Recycled carpet usually comes with the same warranties for colorfastness, static control, and resistance to stain, crushing, and matting as virgin synthetic fiber carpets.

Who makes recycled-content carpeting? FLOR, Interface Carpets, Shaw, Mohawk, Bigelow, Karastan, Milliken, Tandus, Image Industries, Talisman Mills (Envirolon line), J & J Commercial, Lees Commercial Carpets, Collins & Aikman Corp, Atlas Carpet Mills, and DuPont Flooring. Greenerbuildings.org displays a national directory of local dealers who offer eco-friendly carpet.

Environmentally-preferable carpet adhesives are also available through: AFM Enterprises, DAP ENVIRO-LINE, Eco-Wise, Franklin International, PL Adhesives & Sealants, Sinan Co., and Naturlich Natural Home.
Source: Toolbase.org

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