The amount of recycled content, while undoubtedly important, should not be the first — and certainly not the only — green criteria when choosing carpet. An important step should be considered before even thinking about new floor covering: What’s going to happen to the existing carpet?

Good for Our Planet; Good for Business

There’s no questioning the facts when it comes to the environmental benefits of carpet reclamation. Carpet takes more than 50 years to begin to decompose in a landfill. One square yard of carpet weighs as much as the amount of trash the average American throws away each day. Carpet accounts for 2 to 3 percent of all landfill volume. For every ton of carpet recycled, two tons of CO2 are prevented from entering the atmosphere.

Reclaiming carpet can help reduce a facility’s environmental footprint in a number of ways. Ultimately, carpet manufacturers will need to make carpet back into carpet. In order to break our dependency on petroleum-based raw materials, manufacturers need a steady supply of post-consumer recycled carpet to add recycled content to their products. More recycling of carpet at the end of its life means higher recycled content in future products. This means it’s everyone’s responsibility to help close the loop.

It’s also important to understand that carpet reclamation makes equally good business sense. First, depending on the region, it is actually less expensive to recycle carpet than to send it to a landfill. Even if the fees aren’t itemized in the demolition contract, landfill costs are expensive and rising rapidly across the country. Depending on the type of carpet being recycled, reclamation can be free. In the not-too-distant future, it is likely that sending carpet to landfills will no longer be an option, with costly fines for those who do.

Carpet reclamation may contribute up to two points for LEED-CI or LEED-EB certification in the construction waste management category. From an economic perspective, LEED certification has proven to reduce operating costs, enhance asset value and profits, improve employee productivity and satisfaction, and optimize life-cycle performance. A 2006 U.S. Green Building Council study found that retrofitting buildings to achieve LEED certification saved an average of 90 cents per square foot in energy and other costs annually.

It’s Easier Than You Might Think

There was a time when carpet reclamation was difficult, time consuming and expensive. No more. The carpet industry has been an aggressive proponent of keeping its product out of landfills and now provides numerous solutions for managing waste carpet — whether turning old carpet into new carpet, reusing it in another setting, refurbishing, or recycling fiber into other plastic products. Last year, for example, Bentley Prince Street alone recycled approximately 2.2 million pounds of carpet — about the weight of six Boeing 747s — through its ReEntry carpet reclamation program.

The basic rule of carpet reclamation is that the dealer or contractor who’s handling the project’s demolition is responsible for its disposal. Dealers may be willing to absorb part of the cost of reclamation if there is one. Reclamation costs are typically determined by the carpet material, the amount of carpet, the logistics and the location.

Carpet manufacturers can help customers find the best solution for either reusing or recycling carpet. For example, Bentley Prince Street coordinates onsite carpet disposal and, once the bins are filled, it manages the complete reclamation process.

Each reclamation program has different specifications for carpet disposal preparation. While every program varies, generally carpet tile should be palletized and shrink-wrapped; broadloom should be rolled or cut into strips. The carpet also must be dry, clean and separated from other materials.

Another valuable resource for more information is the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint industry-government effort to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going to landfills (www.carpetrecovery.org).

Carpet reclamation can close the loop and, in the process, green the planet and the bottom line.

Sidebar: Tips for Successful (And Easy) Carpet Reclamation

Plan and Budget Upfront. Work with your partners to develop a reclamation budget before you begin specifications, demo and installation.

Cost Your Options. Compare landfill fees to reclamation costs, if any. Disposal fees often aren’t itemized; if you don’t see them broken out, ask.

List Reclamation in Project Specs. Make reclamation part of your bid requirements or project specifications.

Include Reclamation in Your New Carpet Deal. Most carpet manufacturers have reclamation programs. For example, Bentley Prince Street recycles vinyl-backed carpet tile free of charge and partners with dealers to lower recycling costs for facility managers.

Develop a Construction Waste Management Policy. Formalize your reclamation procedures with a construction waste management policy that requires contractors to recycle their construction waste.

Don’t Forget Documentation. Require proof of carpet reclamation from your dealer or carpet manufacturer that lists the project and amount of carpet reclaimed.