Carpet: NWPSC Activities

NWPSC members are involved in product stewardship outreach efforts and programs to properly manage used carpet.

Carpet Programs

Various stakeholders in Washington and Oregon worked during the past decade to increase public agency purchasing of recycled-content carpet and recycle discarded carpet in the region. In 2002, the Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality were among the 22 state signatories, along with leaders in the carpet industry, to the National Carpet Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is product stewardship?

Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): what’s the difference?

Why Product Stewardship?

Who is the NWPSC?

What does the NWPSC do?

Washington Carpet Stewardship Bill (SB 6341)

SB 6341 creating jobs by increasing recycling of discarded carpet was introduced in January 2012, a substitute passed out of committee, but did not move forward.

Carpet

The Problem: Volume, Waste, Emissions

Carpet is bulky, heavy, difficult to handle, and made from non-renewable resources. It is recyclable but it is more often disposed, taking up valuable landfill space and wasting material resources.   In 2010, only 2% of discarded carpet was recycled in Washington and Oregon.  Recycling carpet significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to other end of life management practices. 

Products

The Northwest Product Stewardship Council and its members focus their efforts on products and/or sectors based upon the following criteria:

California Carpet Stewardship (AB 2398)

AB 2398, the carpet product stewardship bill, passed in 2010 and amends the California Public Resources Code (Chapter 20, Section 42970-42983).

New York Carpet Stewardship Legislation (AB 8492)

AB 8492, a bill to establish carpet stewardship, was introduced into the New York State Assembly and referred to committee in June 2011; it was reintroduced at the start of the 2012 session. The law would require that, by July 1, 2012, carpet manufacturers begin collecting and recycling carpet at their own cost through their wholesalers, retailers, and installers.

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