California Carpet Recycling Rate Reaches 37% in 2025
CARE reported that California's Carpet Stewardship Program collected 78.5 million pounds of post-consumer carpet in 2025, with an 86% recycling efficiency rate, 3.5 million pounds reused and 174 public drop-off locations statewide.
Published September 7, 2026
Key Points
- CARE reported a 37% California carpet recycling rate for 2025, meeting the program's annual goal.
- The California Carpet Stewardship Program collected 78.5 million pounds of post-consumer carpet, with 86% of collected material recycled.
- Carpet reuse reached approximately 3.5 million pounds, more than four times the program's 2021 level.
- The collection network served all 58 California counties and expanded by 15 net new locations to 174 public drop-off sites.
- CARE awarded $1.77 million in grants supporting capital improvements, product testing, micro-grants and innovation and design projects.
MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): California's carpet recycling rate reached 37% in 2025, according to the latest annual report from Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE).
The 2025 California Carpet Stewardship Program report, submitted by CARE to CalRecycle on September 1, said the program collected 78.5 million pounds of post-consumer carpet during the year. CARE reported that 86% of the carpet collected was recycled.
Carpet Reuse Climbs to 3.5 Million Pounds
Carpet reuse also increased during the year. Approximately 3.5 million pounds of carpet were directed to reuse in 2025, more than four times the volume reported in 2021.
CARE attributed the increase in part to work with commercial end users, architectural and design firms, and contractors to incorporate recovered carpet into renovation and construction projects.
Public Carpet Drop-Off Network Reaches 174 Sites
CARE's collection network covered all 58 California counties in 2025. The program added 15 net new drop-off locations during the year, bringing the total number of public sites to 174.
CARE also awarded $1.77 million in grants supporting capital improvements, product testing, micro-grants, and innovation and design projects.
CARE Plans September 23 Public Workshop
CARE CEO Bob Peoples said the organization was encouraged by the program's results despite difficult conditions in recycling markets. He said CARE will continue focusing on carpet reuse and recycling under its five-year stewardship plan.
CARE is scheduled to discuss the 2025 annual report during a public workshop on September 23.
