CARE California reports gains in recycling and reuse rates

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) submitted the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s 2025 Annual Report to CalRecycle, describing the program’s activities and progress. Since the passage of the state’s first carpet stewardship law in 2010, CARE has built a solid framework to collect, transport, reuse, recycle and process post-consumer carpet across the state, improving environmental outcomes and advancing a circular economy for carpet.Published September 2026

Accomplishments include:

• Unmatched recycling rate – The recycling rate for carpet reached 37 percent, a level not matched anywhere in the world.
• Carpet kept out of landfill – The program collected 78.5 million pounds of carpet, enough to cover over 3,000 football fields. 86 percent of the collected carpet was recycled.
• Reuse soars – 3.5 million pounds of carpet was sent for reuse, more than four times the amount in 2021. CARE worked directly with large commercial end users, architectural & design firms and general contractors to integrate reuse into active renovation and construction projects.
• Growing collection network – The program continued to serve all 58 California counties, adding 15 net new drop-off sites, for a total of 174 public drop-off sites at the end of 2025.
• Grants fuel innovation and growth – CARE awarded $1.77 million in new grant funds in 2025 for capital improvement, product testing, micro-grants and innovation & design grants.

CARE executive director and chief executive officer Bob Peoples noted, “We are pleased to see these results despite the global economic headwinds experienced across all recycling sectors. CARE is building 16 years of experience working with recyclers, retailers, manufacturers and NGOs to achieve meaningful progress in our new 5 year Plan. Our focus is building a robust circular economy for carpet.”

Published September 2026