DALTON—Clear Path Recycling, a joint venture established by Shaw Industries and DAK Americas, began processing operations last month. Since construction began on the recycling facility, 57 full-time positions have been created.

The Recycled PET (RPET) from post-consumer PET bottles processed through Clear Path Recycling is now being used as recycled content to significantly enhance and expand Shaw’s ClearTouch family of residential carpet products. “Shaw’s ClearTouch products will utilize the RPET produced through the Clear Path Recycling operation,” said David Wilkerson, corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship. “Consumers are seeking environmentally friendly products at an increasing pace and ClearTouch carpet styles deliver performance and style along with the environmental advantage of 25% certified recycled content.”

Opened to produce RPET, Clear Path Recycling will bring the first phase of its Fayetteville, N.C., facility to full capacity in the fourth quarter of this year. By the end of the first phase, the operation will consume up to 160 million pounds of PET bottles, which will save over 550,000 cubic yards of landfill space each year.

Clear Path Recycling currently maintains approximately 20 million pounds of inventory that will be processed into RPET for use by Shaw and DAK Americas.