Carpet Recycling UK inspires retailers to recycle carpet waste
Bramhall, UK: September 12 2013 -- More retailers have been inspired to start recycling their carpet waste and benefit from savings in disposal costs following Carpet Recycling UK’s presence at the 2013 Harrogate Flooring Show.
CRUK, the industry’s association for recycling and reusing carpet, attracted record levels of interest through its stand and seminar sessions, which highlighted the significant economic and environmental advantages of diverting material from landfill. In 2012, 21.4% was diverted. The target is 25% landfill diversion by 2015.
Positive outcomes from CRUK’s fourth year at the show included a retailer arranging to transport large volumes of used and clean carpet to a member recycler; a company very keen to set up a recycling operation and a retailer member forging new links following the seminar. Metro Carpet Buying Group also confirmed it has now joined Carpet Recycling UK.
Commenting after the show, CRUK Director Laurance Bird said: “Year on year interest from retailers has been increasing as they recognise the real business and customer service enhancements delivered by recycling carpet.
“Thanks to our success in growing national recycling networks, it is very satisfying to be able to offer more recycling opportunities than ever to those inspired by our activities. Several retailers at the show realised that they could get their offcuts recycled using reverse logistics with CRUK member Anglo Recycling since they supply them already, raising recycling volumes further,” he added.
Seminar sessions delivered by CRUK’s Project Manager Jane Gardner and Lee Bridge, Business Development Manager at Anglo Recycling, outlined the recycling opportunities and benefits for retailers, as well as the expansion of take-back schemes across the country. Demand continues to grow for clean post-installation off-cuts that can be recycled into new products such as mattress pads, carpet underlay and insulation products.
For one retailer, Bradford-based Winders Carpets, sending clean uplifted carpet and wool-rich and PP carpet offcuts for recycling has reduced their skip use from one per month to just two per year – saving around £6,000 per year.
Owner Tony Winder, who has been recycling carpet for over two years, is totally convinced of the benefits, saying: “It’s definitely a money-saving exercise, but it’s also stopping all this material from going in the ground. Our customers also welcome it as it’s an additional service we can offer, plus they’re more aware of the need to recycle as they’re already recycling their household waste.”
With 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste arising annually in the UK – equal to the weight of 156.5 male African Elephants each day – Lee Bridge said the environmental disposal option is fast becoming a priority for retailers and consumers alike.
He added: “The UK carpet industry is moving towards becoming a circular economy as more recycling and reuse solutions become available. We are at the tip of the iceberg and we need to make a change.”
Carpet Recycling UK can be contacted on 0161 440 8325 or visit www.carpetrecyclinguk.com.
-
Most popular related searches
Customer comments
No comments were found for Carpet Recycling UK inspires retailers to recycle carpet waste. Be the first to comment!