For over 35 years, Caylor has been supplying hardware and industrial products to a wide range of businesses and manufacturing operations. One of the industries that we have served continuously is the carpet industry, maintaining strong roots in our direct community. In our September blog, we gave you the history of our hometown, Dalton, GA, the carpet and flooring capital of the world. Now we’re here to tell you more about the carpet industry itself and how it is working to protect the environment.
Carpeting accounts for 51% of the total U.S. flooring market. Georgia is home to nine of the top 20 carpet manufacturers with 45% of the world’s carpets and rugs coming out of our home state. And, within a 65-mile radius of Dalton, local mills produce more than 85% of the U.S. carpet and rug market with an estimated $8 billion in business activity. The carpet industry is huge and the process, from original manufacturing to disposal of used materials, is extremely important to us.
What’s the Best way to Dispose of Used Carpeting?
When it’s time to remove and replace carpeting, common procedure is to have municipal garbage carters take it away. In the past, their only option was to bring used carpets and rugs to landfills. With the start of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) in 2002, carpet recycling and reclamation is not only possible but on the rise.
CARE members work to develop and advance market-based solutions for post-consumer carpet diversion and recycling. In 2014, 185 million pounds of used carpeting were recycled, and 494 million pounds were diverted from landfills. Most carpet manufacturers are members of CARE and offer resources to aid the recycling effort. Recycling is available throughout the country and can be accessed locally at the Georgia Carpet Recovery facility in East Point.
Sustainable business practices for the protection of the environment benefit us all. At Caylor our mission is to be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. We continue to deliver the highest quality industrial supplies that keep the mills producing top-quality carpets and rugs to meet consumer demand. With recycling now a viable option for carpeting at the end of its lifespan, we support the industry from start to finish!