Please join the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) for a conversation with a carpet policy expert, an established recycler, and a local official about the opportunity and impact of carpet EPR. Recycling carpet creates jobs and achieves substantial reductions in GHG emissions. Yet, despite decades of discussions and voluntary agreements to recover carpet, only ~1 percent of carpets are recycled in the US. California is the only state whose carpet recycling rate is 30%, as a result of its extended producer responsibility program for carpet. Just before the new year, New York became the second state to enact EPR for carpet. New York’s improved approach offers a practical, effective policy that can serve as a model in other parts of the region and the country.

Presenters:

• David Bender, Chief Executive Officer, Circular Polymers by Ascend
• Garth Hickle, Managing Partner, Signalfire Group
• Dawn M. Timm, Director, Division of Environmental/Solid Waste, Niagara County Department of Public Works