MANUFACTURERS: Average member diversion rate reaches 53%

The association begins 2011 on a very positive note, with recent figures showing that manufacturing members have achieved dramatic improvements in waste diversion from landfill, having secured an average diversion rate of 53% compared to a national industry average of 6%.

Manufacturing members diverted a total of 2760 tonnes of carpet from landfill in 2009 rising to 4020 tonnes for 2010. This group of companies have also committed to zero waste by the end of 2012 with many expected to achieve this within the year.

Jane Gardner welcomed the news as a "tremendous achievement which demonstrates the commitment these manufacturers have made to sustainability and the important progress that is being made towards the industry goal of 25% diversion by 2015."

Read about Carpet Recycling UK's other successes in 2010 and the targets in place for 2011 opposite.

The manufacturing members who provide core funding for the work of Carpet Recycling UK are:

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TRIALS: Growing benefits of wool rich carpet shred

A report by Ecological Restoration Consultants has found that wool rich carpet shred (WRCS) has significant potential as a soil improver in brownfield restoration sites where soils are too poor to support trees, shrubs or amenity grassland. The work was commissioned by Envirolink NW on behalf of Carpet Recycling UK to follow on from previous research into horticultural applications for WRCS.

The trials tested the addition of WRCS to sandy subsoil at proportions of 10% , 25% and 40% , as well as a blend of 20% with 20% PAS 100 green compost. These mixes were tested with a range of plant species appropriate for landscape regeneration. A control of 100% poor sandy subsoil was also included.

The results showed that the high nitrogen content of WRCS provides rapid and strong growth, and the report concludes that as well as a soil improver in site restoration, the shred also has potential for incorporation into topsoil mixes for establishment of amenity grass landscapes.

The trial results will be disseminated at the CRUK seminar at Ecobuild in March, see opposite for further details on this event. A summary of the report will be available from www.ecologicalrestoration.co.uk later this month.

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MANUFACTURERS: Penthouse Carpets achieve "landfill to nil" in a year

Penthouse Carpets has emerged as a top performer in carpet recycling, having cut industrial carpet waste sent to landfill by 83% in just over a year. The Lancashire based company is employee-owned and one of the five largest carpet manufacturers in the UK, producing wool rich carpets with jute backing at a rate of around 30,000 square metres a week.

In 2009 the firm sent 140 tonnes of carpet to landfill, but with assistance from CRUK, outlets have been found for two major carpet waste streams: "Hard waste" - off-cuts and side strips with jute backing are given a new life as land reclamation materials, and "soft waste", that of woven wool fibres, is turned into an underlay by Anglo Felts, another CRUK member.

These changes have yielded multiple benefits as Rob Load, Production Director explains "The real gains for us are through a new underlay revenue stream and reducing landfill costs... we think its very worthwhile from both a moral and ethical viewpoint, as well as from a purely business perspective." The company has cut landfill charges by over £20,000 this year alone.

To read the full details in a case study follow the link opposite.

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EVENT: North West networking breakfast event

November saw the first of several networking events to raise awareness of recovery options for carpet waste across different UK regions. The breakfast meeting in Warrington was well attended with over 83 representatives from manufacturers and other supply chain companies as well as recyclers, councils and other agencies.

Presentations from specialists Scout Enterprises, Stop Waste Ltd, ECO2 Enterprises and The Waste Exchange provided an introduction to main routes for recycling, reuse and energy recovery. Attendees were also able to meet recyclers and discuss technologies and end markets for carpet waste.

Feedback from delegates was very positive. Paul Morgan from Orea Resource Management commented:"The event was excellent and really increased my understanding. I made some good contacts and have already started to send out information to clients, some of whom are planning refurbishments of facilities in the coming months so hopefully they now have more options to consider."

Further events planned for 2011 include a Tackling Bulky Waste event for the South East region next month (see opposite for details) and an Entrepreneurs' Meeting on 5th July in Birmingham- please email marie@carpetrecyclinguk.com for further information or to register your interest in this event.

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OUTLET: 4 Recycling launches new carpet recycling service

Waste consultants 4Recycling have launched a new collection and recycling service for mixed loads of any type of wool-rich or synthetic carpet waste. Once collected, the company can segregate and process the carpet at their new Leeds facility and send it on for recycling. Wool-rich waste is recycled as container growing media and synthetic waste shredded for use in sound proofing underlay and equestrian surface applications.

The company plans to roll out the service more widely as Director Paul Gilbert explains: "We are at the forefront of putting in the infrastructure such as collection equipment, transport hubs and processing centres... We’re working with CRUK to develop sustainable solutions for carpet waste re-use."

Reprocessing sites are planned in South Wales, the South West and Northumberland along with transport hubs in Sheffield, Kent, Northern Ireland and two sites in the NW. 4Recycling is looking for partners to develop transport Hubs in London, the Midlands and Scotland.

For further information and enquiries please email Paul.Gilbert@4recycling.co.uk.

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MUNICIPAL COLLECTION: Rutland CC and Mid UK partner to tackle bulky waste

A partnership between Rutland County Council and CRUK member Mid-UK Recycling has enabled this top performing unitary authority to further cut residual wastes to landfill by diverting bulky waste materials including carpets and mattresses.

Having introduced dedicated containers for separation of carpets and mattresses at all civic amenity sites, RCC has commissioned Mid-UK to process these wastes to extract the highest value for the raw materials, and produce flock for energy recovery for residuals which cannot be separated. Local processing at the Caythorpe site of Mid-UK also ensures that transport costs are optimised.

Rutland CC are already ranked 10th amongst all local authorities nationally with a current municipal waste recycling rate of over 56%.They estimate that more than 100 tonnes of carpet will be diverted from landfill during 2011 as a result of these innovations.

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