Here’s a fitting note to indicate the carpet industry’s commitment to sustainability this Earth Day – next week’s annual conference of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is sold out for the first time in its eight year history. The carpet recycling group has experienced huge growth in its membership this year, and as state legislatures around the country look at implementing extended producer responsibility bills that require manufacturers to be responsible for their products’ reuse and/or disposal at the end of their useful lives, it’s a safe bet to say CARE’s growth is set to be a long-term trend.
The Carpet and Rug Institute has been following proposed extended producer responsibility (epr) legislation efforts for quite some time. (See earlier our blog post Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Carpet & CARE.)
California’s proposed EPR legislation, the nation’s first devoted solely to carpet reclamation, would have tremendous impact on the carpet bill. CRI Vice-President Frank Hurd says, “If passed in its current form, California’s proposed AB2398, or Carpet Product Stewardship Bill would be extremely onerous. It would cost the carpet industry millions and millions of dollars.” AB 2398 was introduced by the California Assembly’s new Speaker, John Perez.
AB 2398 Proposed actions:
• Establishes a 50% collection rate by 2014, increasing to 70% by 2017
• Industry must submit a stewardship plan to the CA Dep’t. Of Resources and Recycling, which must approve the plan and set the fees for all activities.
• Manufacturers will be responsible for all costs associated with the collection, diversion, and or recycling of post-consumer carpet, including, but not limited to, paying cities and municipalities’ costs for carpet collection.
In late April, Hurd testified in Sacramento before the California State Assembly’s Environmental Committee on the subject of AB 2398. Hurd was joined by representatives from the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and CRI member Shaw Industries. Prior to and immediately following the committee hearing, Hurd met with Speaker Perez and his staff, as well as with staff from the office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
AB 2398 was voted out of the Environmental Committee and sent to the Appropriations Committee for review. Even in light of this, Hurd says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of the legislative process concerning AB 2398. “It is CRI’s intent to work diligently to have the bill pulled from the legislative calendar, and thus to allow the carpet industry to proceed with its plan for sustainable funding of carpet recycling,” Hurd said. (See related post Sustainable Carpet Funding Sources.)
Click here to read CRI President Werner Braun’s letter concerning AB 2398.
Here’s how one CRI Member is celebrating Earth Day: At its Dalton, Georgia headquarters, Shaw employees are invited outside for a “Chillin’ on the Hill” picnic that also promotes employee recycling efforts.
CRI appreciates all of its members and their efforts on behalf of the environment. The carpet industry has a great story to tell, on Earth Day and every day!
~Bethany
The Carpet and Rug Institute has been following proposed extended producer responsibility (epr) legislation efforts for quite some time. (See earlier our blog post Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Carpet & CARE.)
California’s proposed EPR legislation, the nation’s first devoted solely to carpet reclamation, would have tremendous impact on the carpet bill. CRI Vice-President Frank Hurd says, “If passed in its current form, California’s proposed AB2398, or Carpet Product Stewardship Bill would be extremely onerous. It would cost the carpet industry millions and millions of dollars.” AB 2398 was introduced by the California Assembly’s new Speaker, John Perez.
AB 2398 Proposed actions:
• Establishes a 50% collection rate by 2014, increasing to 70% by 2017
• Industry must submit a stewardship plan to the CA Dep’t. Of Resources and Recycling, which must approve the plan and set the fees for all activities.
• Manufacturers will be responsible for all costs associated with the collection, diversion, and or recycling of post-consumer carpet, including, but not limited to, paying cities and municipalities’ costs for carpet collection.
In late April, Hurd testified in Sacramento before the California State Assembly’s Environmental Committee on the subject of AB 2398. Hurd was joined by representatives from the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and CRI member Shaw Industries. Prior to and immediately following the committee hearing, Hurd met with Speaker Perez and his staff, as well as with staff from the office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
AB 2398 was voted out of the Environmental Committee and sent to the Appropriations Committee for review. Even in light of this, Hurd says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of the legislative process concerning AB 2398. “It is CRI’s intent to work diligently to have the bill pulled from the legislative calendar, and thus to allow the carpet industry to proceed with its plan for sustainable funding of carpet recycling,” Hurd said. (See related post Sustainable Carpet Funding Sources.)
Click here to read CRI President Werner Braun’s letter concerning AB 2398.
Here’s how one CRI Member is celebrating Earth Day: At its Dalton, Georgia headquarters, Shaw employees are invited outside for a “Chillin’ on the Hill” picnic that also promotes employee recycling efforts.
CRI appreciates all of its members and their efforts on behalf of the environment. The carpet industry has a great story to tell, on Earth Day and every day!
~Bethany
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