Oxnard, Calif.—For Scott Wening, a veteran of the flooring industry for more than a quarter of a century, recycling post-consumer carpet (used carpet) isn’t just another business venture; it’s a moral obligation. Almost three years ago, Wening started EnvironX, a recycling company, with the idea of finding a solution for the post-consumer broadloom which is returned daily from residential and commercial buildings. “Our carpet recycling project is immense and complicated,” he told FC-News. “The flooring industry has a moral, and somewhat legal obligation to solve the post-consumer carpet problem. It is trying, but may fall short of meeting the EPA’s guidelines.”

Wening noted, the flooring industry has committed to recycling or diverting 40% of the post-consumer carpet generated in the country by 2012. He believes his years in the flooring industry has assisted the company in coming to grips with certain facets of the post-consumer carpet problem. “Our solution is all encompassing and, with financing, we can recycle 60% within six years. Our approach is novel and out-of-the-box. We collect, process and create affordable, everyday products. Collect, Process, Create Initially, the aim of the company is to collect the carpet and recycle it for use as padding for under carpet cushion. “Without the need for subsidization, we can be profitable after two years,” said Wening. “That’s novel in that other past efforts have relied on tipping fees to achieve practical profitability. “Unfortunately,” he added, “we have quite a ways to go as financing opportunities are challenging at the moment, but we feel that given the chance, we can make the industry heroes, not goats.”

There are more than five billion pounds of carpet that go into landfills every year, noted Wening. “This is a very, very large amount of used carpet and less than 4% is recycled. So our idea is to find a solution to what is a costly problem for just about everyone concerned with the flooring industry.” “We will make a couple of varieties that will open up other new markets to us,” he explained. “The exciting thing is that we can take much of the same product and apply it to other opportunities, such as the automotive and mattress industries.” The company hopes to open its first facility in Southern California with others to follow as regularly planned events in other major metropolitan areas throughout the country.

“Most of what we have is ‘off the shelf,’ so it’s just putting everything together, getting things organized and starting the process,” said Wening. “Once the plant is up and running and proves to be all we say it’s going to be, we’re prepared to open 19 others across the country just as quickly as possible.” EnvironX is currently seeking financial partners to help start solving the problem. “We’ve made a lot of progress but still have a ways to go,” said Guy Barone, Wening’s partner in the venture. “The technology, the application of the process we use is so dynamic, so absolutely phenomenal. Once we get going we think it will be great.”

 GreenDot Program EnvironX has also developed a marketing strategy called the Green-Dot Program, a certification initiative that engages the entire industry, Barone noted, including manufacturers, dealers as well as installation workrooms. “We are going to appoint people throughout the country who will be part of our GreenDot network. Our GreenDot partners act both as our collection partners, and our customers. They will be GreenDot certified. “We’ll have the private industry, governmental agencies, and the public keyed in to the Green-Dot Certification Program that will drive business and broadloom to us as a result of that affiliation,” he added. The GreenDot program, noted Barone, also encompasses a branding strategy. “We are going to come out with a GreenDot brand of products which are going to be primarily in the pad business.” “The pad we can create from this, just from the carpet fiber, is powerful, strong and resilient,” said Barone. “The entire program has a lot of advantages both for residential and commercial segments.” Those interested in getting involved in the GreenDot Program should call EnvironX at 805/375-1169. —Louis Iannaco