CARE announced winners of the Person and Recycler of the Year Awards in conjunction with the organization’s 24th Annual Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 2025 Person of the Year is David Bender, chief executive officer of Circular Polymers by Ascend in Lincoln, California. The 2025 Recycler of the Year is California carpet manufacturer Bentley Mills. In addition, a Special Recognition Award went to Doug Mancosh, chief executive officer of RISE Composite Technologies (now RISE® by CertainTeed).
CARE Person of the Year David Bender is co-founder and chief executive officer of Circular Polymers by Ascend, a leader in reclaiming alternative feedstocks into polymer. Circular Polymers converts nylon, polyester, and polypropylene carpet and field turf into clean feedstock for a new life. Under Bender’s visionary leadership, Circular Polymers by Ascend has grown to be one of the leading recyclers of post-consumer carpet and other materials in the world. Bender’s entire career is defined by a commitment to value creation through innovation and collaboration. He has worked in the recycling sector for over 15 years, founding and leading PET bottle-to-bottle plants. Prior to recycling, He led Havi Global Solutions, a company with 50 offices in 25 countries focused on packaging, supply chain and marketing analytics. He is a member of California’s Carpet Stewardship Advisory Committee and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
CARE Recycler of the Year Bentley Mills has manufactured and marketed award-winning broadloom, carpet tile and area rug products for interiors across the globe since 1979. As California’s only commercial carpet manufacturer, Mills is committed to sustainable commerce and social responsibility, achieving top industry certifications, including Cradle to Cradle and NSF® 140. They operate a LEED-EBOM® Gold carpet manufacturing facility. Under new statutory requirements for post-consumer carpet content for new carpet in California, Mills was the first mill to be able to meet this goal, and ahead of schedule.
Special Recognition went to Doug Mancosh, who was recognized for his steadfast commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit by building successful companies. His most recent success was RISE Composite Technologies, which uses large amounts of post-consumer carpet fibers to build high quality plastic lumber products. His successful development of these products resulted in the acquisition of RISE Building Products (RISE Composite Technologies) by Saint-Gobain, through its building materials division CertainTeed Siding, on October 1, 2025. Mancosh has long been a quiet supporter of CARE’s efforts to build the recycling infrastructure needed to create viable market outlets.
CARE chief executive officer and executive director Bob Peoples noted, “The recycling of old carpet is a heavy lift. Over the past several years, CARE has grown carpet collection and recycled output while expanding our network. This year’s winners demonstrate the value of cooperation. These accomplishments are the direct result of dedicated recyclers and manufacturers who step up, accept the risks and deliver a better planet for all of us and our children. They are creating a new circular economy, one square yard at a time. Bravo!”
Published May 2026
