UK Group Reports Strong Carpet Recycling Efforts

Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK), which is managed by the U.K.-based resource recovery firm Axion Consulting, has reported that more than 6,000 metric tons of end-of-life carpet will be diverted from landfills in 2012 by its member companies.

CRUK, which is an industry-backed association for companies recycling and reusing carpet, says in a news release that of the 6,049 metric tons collected, 5,241 metric tons were recycled and 808 metric tons were diverted for energy recovery purposes.

“This is a fantastic achievement and testament to the supreme efforts made by our U.K.-based manufacturers in diverting materials from UK landfill sites, with the obvious benefits in resource recovery and reduced environmental impact,” says Laurance Bird, director of CRUK.

“This illustrates that new outlets and innovative end uses for recycled carpet waste are developing all the time. There is a lot of entrepreneurial spirit willing to turn waste carpet into a new raw material resource,” he adds.

CRUK estimates that around 400,000 metric tons of end-of-life carpet is landfilled in the U.K. each year.