Carpet Recycling UK’s significant achievements in finding new uses for waste carpet and exceeding targets have been recognized with the industry scheme funded by major carpet manufacturers winning the Landfill Diversion Strategy category of Resource Revolution Awards 2013.
Diversion of carpet waste from landfill increased to 21.4% in 2012 – a rise of 30% on the previous year’s 16.5% rate. This saw 85,000 tonnes of waste carpet avoiding landfill last year. CRUK’s target is 25% landfill diversion by 2015.
Of the 85,000 tonnes, the recycled and reused portion was 36,000 tonnes, while 49,000 tonnes was sent for energy recovery via cement kilns and power generation plants. Energy recovery grew by 44% or 15,000 tonnes as the high calorific value of carpets became more widely recognized and exploited.
Landfill diversion for UK-based manufacturing members grew to 6,049 tonnes of production offcuts in 2012 – representing a 99% diversion rate. Recycling was by far the majority outlet at 5,241 tonnes with only 808 tonnes used for energy recovery. Around 400,000 tonnes of waste carpet arises annually in the UK.
CRUK Director Laurance Bird commented: “We are delighted and very proud to have won this award, which honours the efforts, support and commitment across the entire supply chain – manufacturers, flooring contractors, distributors and retailers – who have helped to drive our initiative forward and capture rising waste tonnages that are being diverted from landfill.
“In providing the core funding for Carpet Recycling UK, the manufacturers wanted to demonstrate producer responsibility for their products and made a commitment to achieving zero production waste to landfill, which was achieved within four years.
“Their input is vital to our success and our work in encouraging, inspiring and advising all types of businesses and organisations who want to develop and progress carpet recycling activities,” added Laurance.
The judges praised Carpet Recycling UK for bringing businesses together to make the step change needed for greater reuse and recovery of this challenging material stream, saying: “Their entry made it obvious they were tackling a tough issue head-on while delivering significant benefits on the ground.”
The Resource Revolution Awards recognize and reward transformational modern waste management by championing those revolutionizing the concept of waste and the way society deals with it. Hosted by edie.net and Local Authority Waste & Recycling Magazine, the awards are sponsored by the Carbon Trust.
Moving from waste to resource will be the key focus at Carpet Recycling UK’s fifth Annual Conference which opens in Birmingham on June 19th with a wide-ranging programme covering latest developments and innovations across all sectors of the carpet waste supply chain.
