Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE)

800-882-8846 carpetrecovery.org

The members of the carpet industry have established a third-party organization known as the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). The carpet industry will work through CARE to achieve the goals set forth in the National Agreement on Carpet Recycling.

CARE will focus on using market-based solutions for increasing the reuse and recycling of post-consumer carpet. The carpet industry agrees to use CARE to:

• Enhance the collection infrastructure for post-consumer carpet.
• Serve as a resource for technical, economic and market development opportunities for recovered carpet.
• Develop and perform quantitative measurement and reporting on progress toward the Negotiated Outcomes Goals.
• Work collectively to seek and provide funding opportunities for activities to support the Negotiated Outcomes Goals.

CARE will facilitate, advise, provide resources, and be a forum for the many different stakeholders to accomplish its mission. CARE's website < www.carpetrecovery.org > is the home for information about this national effort to recover carpet waste.

Recent news: CARE annual reports

CARE has issued two annual reports detailing the progress toward fulfilling the goals of the national agreement. The 2003 Annual Report (March 2004), based on industry surveys conducted by Weston Solutions, Inc., provides data on the various diversion management methods as outlined in the MOU: recycling, reuse, cement kilns, and waste-to-energy applications. The report also covers product and market development activities and industry products and programs. Visit the CARE web site to download the full document.

Evaluation

Through CARE, carpet industry members and the government entities will be jointly responsible for monitoring, evaluating and assessing progress toward the Negotiated Outcomes Goals. Stakeholders outside of the carpet industry will maintain active roles in CARE to assist with data collection, analysis, and program evaluation to ensure transparency in reporting on the status of activity.

CARE sub-committees

CARE has formed sub-committees which will focus on the technical, economic, and market development opportunities for recovered carpet. They will assist in the efforts to divert carpet from waste as directed by the CARE executive committee. Membership is drawn from the carpet industry and government.

Reports

A series of reports is planned to show progress toward the goals in the agreement.

• Annual Reports. CARE will publish an annual report by March 31st of each year, with the first report in March 2003. This report will offer updated market development opportunities for recovered carpet, information on quantities managed through the various management options outlined in the Negotiated Outcomes Goals, an assessment of successes and obstacles encountered during the reporting period, a summary of state and federal efforts related to carpet. CARE will post the reports on their website and publicize them through other means.
• Interim Reports. For 2005, CARE will do a status report documenting progress made toward meeting the "year three" management goals. In year five (2007), an independent study will be commissioned to evaluate the progress and identify existing barriers toward meeting the negotiated outcomes goals. A jointly supported and facilitated multi-stakeholder group composed of CARE members will review the report and develop implementation strategies and make recommendations for improving the recovery and integrated management of post-consumer carpet.
• 2010 Negotiations. In year eight (2010), CARE and other stakeholders shall create a multi-stakeholder process for developing recommendations and goals for the next ten-year period. Invited stakeholders will include at least five (5) states, ten (10) members of the carpet industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and one (1) NGO.
• Final Report. In 2012, CARE will issue a final report detailing progress made toward meeting the goals of the first ten-year plan.

About "third-party organizations"

This term refers to a private, not-for-profit organization that is established to implement and administer programs to recover and manage products at end-of-life. Such organizations may be formed through legislative requirements or voluntarily by interested parties such as manufacturers, retailers, or independent groups. The typical third party organization also collects and administers the fees that fund the product recovery and management programs, which are normally funded by the participants.

Voluntary example: Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC)

RBRC was founded in 1994 by manufacturers of rechargeable batteries and battery-containing products — the batteries typically found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers and camcorders. Manufacturers acted in response to mandated manufacturer responsibility requirements for nickel-cadmium batteries enacted in Minnesota and New Jersey, ultimately establishing a voluntary national program to collect spent rechargeables.

RBRC is funded by the licensing of the "RBRC Battery Recycling Seal," where licensees pay a fee based on the size of product they sell. Participating companies can use the RBRC seal on their products and packaging, indicating membership. RBRC has grown to over 300 licensees, including manufacturers, resellers, and marketers of rechargeable batteries and products.

In addition to a collection system, RBRC operates a public education campaign to support its efforts. Consumers are told to look for products with the RBRC seal, and call 1-800-8-BATTERY or visit www.rbrc.org to find a participating free disposal site.

Legislated example: British Columbia (BC) Product Care

The original British Columbia, Canada, Paint Care Association was formed as a non-profit organization in 1996. The Ministry of the Environment required companies selling paint in the province to offer consumers free collection services for waste paint. Now known as Product Care, the organization has expanded to other products, including pesticides and petroleum products.

Product Care operates free collection depots spread throughout the province, along with some participating retailers. The program is funded by a separate "eco-fee" that is charged at the point of sale. The fee ensures that all users of a product help pay for the cost of disposing of leftovers safely, and understand their responsibility for proper disposal. The eco-fee is determined by the organization, and is not managed or handled by the government.

Product Care is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives from manufacturers. The association is required to undergo annual, independent audits.