Facts about Carpet
Carpeting is a beautiful and comfortable addition to any home
or business. We invest a great deal into our flooring to
ensure aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces. However,
even the most environmentally conscious person reaches the
point where their old green shag carpeting from the ’70s
or the stained flooring in the playroom just has to go.
According to the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), carpet
is difficult to recycle because of the many substances that constitute
it. For example, in a typical carpet, the two main components
are the face fiber and the backing system. The face fiber is
what you see and walk on, is the most valuable portion of the
carpet for recycling and is typically made of:
- Nylon 6,6
- Nylon
- Polypropylene (also called “olefin”)
- Polyester
The second portion of the carpet structure is the backing
system. The most common types of backing are:
- Polyvinylchloride (PVC) – Primarily used in the commercial
sector
- Latex – Typically used in residences
Backing also contains:
- Additional layers – Such as polypropylene
- Fillers – Such as calcium carbonate
Because of this complex system and the numerous substances
within it, recycling carpeting is difficult and often comes
at a charge to cover the steps involved, such as separation,
shredding and handling.
According to CARE, during
2007 a total of 296 million pounds of post-consumer carpet
was diverted from landfills,
with 275.1 million pounds being recycled. This recycling
effort saved an equivalent of 2.5 million barrels of oil.
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