Waste Redux

As I wrote last week, Tricycle is doing its darn best to eliminate carpet sample waste, but as one reader inquired, what do we do with old carpet sample books?

I put the question to Jeff Carrier, the executive director of the Carpet & Rug Institute’s CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort) program. He advised calling the specific manufacturers, all of whom will take back their sample books, even those with discontinued patterns. Jeff asked me to give you his contact info (706-428-2115, jcarrier@carpet-rug.org) should you have any further questions.

Resource room clean-up day inevitably generates a lot of waste. What do we do with the other stuff?

My research also uncovered, ZeroLandfill, a program that supplies the needs of local artists and arts educators by repurposing specification samples from the architectural and interior design community. The organization looks for carpet tiles and books, paint decks, laminate chips, fabric books and memo samples, wall covering books, flooring, tile, stone, vinyl, and rubber samples to give to folks who will use the materials as studio and classroom supplies. This has inspired similar programs in Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, Boston, and Louisville. (Minneapolis, San Diego, and other cities are looking to launch their own.)

The list of things that can’t be recycled is short—and getting shorter. A grand resource is Earth 911. Type in the item and your zip code to find local recycling outlets.

In 2006, E/The Environmental Magazine published "How to Recycle Practically Anything," a still-relevant discussion of recycling challenges and successes. Its bottom line advice: There’s a market for the stuff in your trash can. Visit your local recycling center to learn more about how it all works.