Carpet Recycling UK announce record landfill diversion rate

Carpet Recycling UK has announced it has achieved a landfill diversion rate of 28% for the past year, giving waste carpet a ‘second life’ in various applications.

The latest announcement marks a 26% increase in landfill diversion in the past seven years; with the ultimate goal for Carpet Recycling UK being to achieve 60% by 2020.

Laurance Bird, Director of Carpet Recycling UK, thanked its core funders and members for “providing the vital impetus to the cycling and landfill diversion cause.”

The organisation’s core funders are Cormar Carpets, Lifestyle Floors/Headlam, Desso, Ege, Milliken, Balsan and Marlings – and Laurance estimates that its membership covers around 35% of the carpet supplied to the UK market.

He commented: “Without their unstinting support, the industry would not be where it is today; that is keeping raw materials out of landfill and in the supply chain.

With their help, we have already surpassed our first major milestone of 25% diversion from landfill by 2015. So we and the environment have a lot to thank them for.”

Sustainable growth

Since joining Carpet Recycling UK, financial backer Cormar Carpets has focused on carpet waste streams from their manufacturing processes. 

Cromar’s Finance Director, Robert Barker, recognised that carpet originally classified as waste is now considered a valued raw material. He added: “We’re seeing more value as the carpet waste market develops, due to CRUK’s active work; plus our customers’ businesses are now beginning to benefit too.”

Carpet manufacturer Desso attributed its association and exchange of expertise with CRUK as central to the success of its carpet tile Take Back programme in the UK. 

Desso’s Technical Manager, Keith Hall, commented: “This has reflected our strong growth in the commercial business in a very positive way and is full integrated into our long term Cradle to Cradle objectives.”

Kate Burnett, Milliken’s Strategic Marketing Manager, described the programme as “key to sustainable growth.”

The company has developed a series of practical recycling solutions to meet its clients’ needs and improve the environmental footprint of the industry. 

CRUK’s activities helped the UK carpet manufacturers to achieve zero waste to landfill in 2012.

Further support

After initial success with recycling edge trims and offcuts, Carpet Recycling UK’s core funders sought out outlets for clean manufacturing waste and achieving zero production waste. 

With the assistance of CRUK, the companies sought outlets for post-installation waste followed by post-consumer material.

Outlets are becoming increasingly common for local authorities, contractors and retailers to exchange carpets for reuse, recycling or energy recovery; and in many cases save money on disposal costs.

Carpet Recycling UK will now encourage manufacturers to assist in recovery of clean installation offcuts using their logistics networks. 

Companies will also be pressed to advice customers on the opportunities for recycling offcuts, in addition to old carpets.

Laurance concluded: “Our work to date means we can now effectively offer the whole ‘circular’ package. Manufacturers are helping their customers with their clients’ waste carpet, while examining how their own products can be improved with sustainability in mind. 

With valued support from our core funders and members, we continue to do a great job but more support is critical.”

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