Carpet Recycling UK hosts eighth Annual Conference and Awards Event

Carpet Recycling UK held its eight Annual Conference and Awards Event at the home of Premier League champions Leicester City FC to recognise the achievements and contributions of its members who have helped to drive forward greater sustainability in the sector.

Both individuals and organisations were celebrated for setting up innovative schemes, including carpet tile reuse supporting disadvantaged people, recycled fibres transformed into horticultural growing mats and collecting waste carpet from retailers for energy recovery.

In 2015 around 125,000 tonnes of waste carpet was diverted from landfill through reuse, recycling and energy recovery – 31% of the total amount of waste carpet in the UK (400,000 tonnes). Carpet Recycling UK has a target of 60% diversion from landfill by 2020.

Whilst the energy recovery, equestrian and automotive/leisure sectors continue to offer opportunities for future growth in the UK, CRUK Director Laurance Bird stated that segregating carpet waste for reuse and recycling remains a key challenge. 

CRUK will continue to promote design for easier resource recovery, identify new recycling technologies for carpet materials and develop further recycling outlets and markets in line with Circular Economy principles.

Celebrating carpet reuse and recycling successes 

The third annual awards ceremony for carpet recycling included three special awards, introduced for the first time this year, rewarding winners based on their company’s activity as a CRUK member.

Graham Kempton of Designer Contractors was named Recycling Champion for his commitment to reorganising delivery routes and increasing the capacity to collect more waste to make carpet recycling work. Tony Winder of Winder Carpets and Neil Green of Made by U were ‘Highly Commended’ in the category.

Designer Contracts was also recognised as Take Back Partner of the Year for the second consecutive year for “working tirelessly to make recycling happen” and for working closely with its recycling partners. Linney Cooper and Branagan Flooring Services were runners-up.

Further awards went to Carpet Tile Recycling (Reuse Member of the Year) and Desso UK (Recycler of the Year).

Special awards recognising recycling excellence

The Best Newcomer Award was given to Doncaster-based reuse and recycling social enterprise Made By U for making a significant impact since becoming a CRUK member. The company benefits its local community through carpet tile reuse and is diverting large volumes of carpet waste in Yorkshire from landfill into the highest possible value outlets.

The 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award went to Anglo Recycling Technology for its effort in achieving high quality carpet fibres for reuse in textiles, including a closed-loop section that reprocesses retailers’ carpet off-cuts back into underlay.

Cormar Carpets was recognised for its commitment to carpet recycling and sustainability with the Longstanding Support Award, having been a core funder since 2009. 

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