The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) announced, pending CalRecycle approval, the California Carpet Assessment will increase on February 1, 2025.

The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) will host its 23rd Annual Conference under the theme "Carpet Recycling: Riding the Sustainability Wave" at the Sea Bird Resort in Oceanside, California, May 20-21, 2025.  

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has requested CalRecycle's approval for an increase in carpet recycling fees, proposed to take effect February 1, 2025. The adjustment aims to meet new reserve requirements mandated by CalRecycle for year-end 2025.

California lawmakers recently updated the state's carpet recycling program, which will take effect in January. The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is working to understand how the new requirements will impact its existing approved plan.  

Bob Peoples, executive director of Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), attended The Flooring Sustainability Summit where he spoke on carpet recycling. Here, he talks more in-depth about the Summit, the history of CARE, and the AB-863 California carpet recycling bill.  

AB 863 will replace the current carpet recycling program, which has consistently met state goals, with a complicated new program that is both untested, unproven, and more costly, said The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), which opposes the measure. See previous coverage here. 

On September 1, CARE submitted the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s 2023 Annual Report to CalRecycle, highlighting a historically high recycling rate among other achievements. CalRecycle is accepting public comments on the Annual Report now through Friday, October 4, 2024.

 The California carpet recycling rate was 35% for the year 2023 and reached 41% in Q1 2024, pulling even with the statewide recycling rate for all materials. This annual rate is an 83% increase over 2019’s rate despite economic and operational challenges that have created significant headwinds.

Sustainability leaders within the flooring industry, architects and designers, policymakers, and advocacy groups grappled with product lifecycle concerns and the delicate balance between cost and eco-friendly practices—all in the name of driving change. 

Russ DeLozier, president of The Carpet and Rug Institute, said California Assembly Bill 863 will have a devastating effect on every flooring business operating in California.