SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is marking the 10th anniversary of its California Carpet Stewardship Grant Program, highlighting a decade of sustained investment.
Since its launch in 2016, the initiative has transformed California’s ability to manage post-consumer carpet (PCC), with recycling rates climbing sharply from 11% in 2016 to 37% in 2025—one of the fastest growth rates recorded globally. Over the period, CARE has awarded 98 grants to 79 entities, totalling nearly $12 million, driving infrastructure expansion, product innovation, and improved collection access.
Key milestones include support for Circular Polymers, which established Northern California’s first PCC recycling facility, and the launch of operations by Aquafil Carpet Recycling and Kian Green Up. Investments have also enabled downstream manufacturers to integrate recycled PCC into finished products.
CARE’s capital funding has boosted annual PCC output from 5 million pounds in 2016–17 to nearly 50 million pounds in 2023–25, with further gains expected. Expanded collection networks, including 174 drop-off sites, and innovation-focused grants have played a key role in helping California reinforce its leadership in carpet recycling.
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