Flooring suppliers of all sizes are rising to the challenge of recycling carpets and asking for advice on how they can offer a recycling service, while bringing down their disposal costs, according to Carpet Recycling UK, the industry’s association for recycling and reusing carpet.

Throughout the three-day 2017 Harrogate Flooring Show, which took place last month, the CRUK team handled numerous enquiries from companies across the carpet supply chain seeking alternative sustainable disposal options for both uplifted carpet and post-installation offcuts. Carpet Recycling UK advises on reuse and recycling options for both domestic and commercial flooring.

“Flooring suppliers are aware of the requirements and challenges for recycling carpets and return to our stand for advice as their waste volumes increase,” commented CRUK Director Laurance Bird. “Larger firms, in particular, are now in a position to consider putting in a ‘carpet crusher’, supplied by our member Kenburn Waste Management, to compact carpet waste. This brings down the costs associated with transporting it and makes recycling feasible.” 

Firms paying more than £700 per month for carpet waste disposal can benefit, he explained. If carpets are segregated and baled, up to 30% savings are possible and add up to considerable cost reductions over a year.

According to the association, on-going support from its core funders, Cormar Carpets, Lifestyle Floors/Headlam, DESSO, ege, Milliken, Balsan and Marlings is helping CRUK to drive solutions for the 400,000 tonnes of waste carpet that arise in the UK every year. Its target is 60% landfill diversion by 2020. Landfill diversion of carpets has increased from 2% to 35% over the past nine years.

“Interest in the reuse and recycling of waste carpet across the UK continues to build year on year. We welcome enquiries from all types of organisations interested in finding new sustainable solutions for their waste carpet,” added Mr Bird.

www.carpetrecyclinguk.com