ALBUQUERQUE—Carpet reclamation and recycling is a growing part of the industry, and the ability to do it out West has gotten easier with the addition of Green Planet Recycling to the Carpet America Recovery Effort ( CARE).

The locally based company recently joined CARE’s Reclamation Partnership of facilities that accept and process postconsumer carpet for recycling and reuse.

With the addition of Green Planet, there were 58 CARE collection centers up and running throughout the U.S. at press time.

Charles Greenwood, co-owner, said the company, which started Jan. 1, is the state’s first carpet and pad recycler. “In our first seven months we kept a half million pounds from entering landfills.”

Getting the used carpet has not really been the problem for Green Planet, he explained. Like most in this fledgling part of the industry, “finding companies that consistently accept carpet in the quantity we are capable of providing has been tough. Fortunately, a few committed, forward-thinking mills have begun programs that require [what we have to offer].”

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition (NMRC) notes, “Carpet recycling is in its infancy, but new and exciting uses are being found. It is [Green Planet’s] hope that eventually 100% of all carpet in New Mexico will be recycled into useful products.”

Greenwood credited NMRC and CARE in helping the company find avenues for the collected carpet. “Both of these organizations have been extremely helpful in providing us with information and support.”

For more information on CARE, please call 706.428.2127. To learn more about Green Planet, call 505.837.1950.