Carpet Recycling in the Northwest Featured in Upcoming Event

SEATTLE, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Carpet recycling has come to the Northwest. A growing number of businesses, both local and national, are developing processes to move carpet out of the waste stream and into new products.  

Recognizing the growing business potential here, the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) is presenting "In the Loop: The NW Carpet Recycling Value Chain." This business networking event and educational program will take place in Kent at the ShoWare Center on June 21.

More than 100,000 tons of carpet enters the waste stream in Washington annually, and about 98 percent of it goes to landfills. But during the past two years:

• Most carpeting installers are now diverting used carpeting to recyclers
• Over a dozen haulers and sorting facilities have begun handling carpet
• Regional capacity to process used carpeting into its individual components has grown in the region with the expansion of an existing company and opening of two new ones
• A growing number of companies are creating products from the recycled components

The half-day event will include displays and short talks that will highlight the stages of recycling carpet, along with the end products being made from the recycled components.

Among the speakers will be those from:

• Agrestal Designs, which makes tiles from recovered limestone
• Recovery 1, a sorting and processing facility for carpet
• Washington State University's Materials Engineering Lab, which works with local businesses to improve equipment, processing, and testing of products

Mannington Commercial is the presenting sponsor of the event. Additional sponsors include Division 9 Contract Flooring, Aquafil, Interface, Shaw, and CDL Recycle. Seattle Public Utilities, King County Solid Waste Division and WSRA will host the event.

Registration is limited. To register, please go to www.wsra.net or call 206-244-0311.

The Washington State Recycling Association is a trade organization representing the state's diverse recycling industry. WSRA "Washington Recycles Every Day" events provide business connections and education throughout the local recycling industry. Additional events are planned around the state during the summer.

SOURCE Washington State Recycling Association