UK Carpet Company Set to Launch Recyclable Carpet Program

Major events carpeting contractor, Reeds Carpeting, is currently investing about half a million pounds in the first ever specialized carpet recycling plant.

The Coventry, UK-based company’s new recyclable carpet range, EVO-RIB is proving to be more versatile than expected. Also, it has successfully tested a new plush heavy-duty velour carpet at Frieze Art Fair in London’s Regents Park.

During September, company supplied or fitted one third of a million square meters of carpeting. Almost half of that - some 150,000 square meters - is coming back to it for recycling.

Besides, it has launched a collection service for amounts of 2,000 square meters and over, which have been used within a 150-mile radius of Coventry.

Company also launched a "return" delivery service under which contractors can return any EVO-RIB carpeting directly to the recycling plant, where it will be recycled without charge.

Reeds has been using over 2 million square meters of carpet a year - some 850 metric tons. The industry’s total waste output is an estimated 12 million square meters.

A great challenge involved in carrying out these recycling programs is that post-show pullouts have to be handled in a more systematic manner, so the right waste can be separated for recycling.

The UK exhibition and events industry estimates that it disposes of around 12 million square meters of carpet a year. Reeds ahs been working with both manufacturers and Warwick University to allow the carpet to be converted into plastic pellets.

The company has invested three years of research into the project.