A groundbreaking carpet recycling plant, hailed as a pivotal force in curbing carbon emissions within the flooring industry, has been unveiled in the UK, according to its founder.
The recently established Innovate Recycle factory located in Northampton holds a mission to repurpose an impressive volume of up to 20,000 tonnes of discarded carpet annually.
Plagued by the complexity of recycling plastic and other intricate materials commonly used in carpet production, the UK has grappled with finding sustainable disposal solutions.
Joseph Eccleston, the visionary behind the initiative, envisions a transformation where “carpet is turned back into carpet,” thus diverting substantial waste away from landfills.
An analysis of the current landscape suggests that merely 2% of the UK’s annual carpet waste, which tallies up to 500,000 tonnes, undergoes recycling. This material is either sent abroad for processing or repurposed into new carpets if the original composition allows for easier recycling, such as wool-based carpets.
Regrettably, unrecycled carpet waste typically finds its fate in either landfill sites or waste incinerators.
Drawing on his experience in the flooring industry as a retailer, Eccleston was galvanized to tackle this environmental challenge after witnessing the sizable waste stream generated.
“Seeing is believing. Having this facility in Northampton is quite key to getting people to come and see what we’re doing, how we recycle carpet and the impact that they can have,” he expressed.
The factory, realized at a cost of approximately £10 million, officially commenced operations in April at the Lodge Farm Industrial Estate in Duston.
The establishment accepts discarded material, systematically sorting and segregating it. Advanced machinery is employed to break down polypropylene plastic from the carpet’s backing layer, subsequently producing pellets for use in new carpets, automotive body bumpers, and storage containers.
Martin Harris, the CEO of Tapi Carpets, noted that addressing the industry’s waste predicament is an “essential topic that demands attention.” Tapi Carpets has partnered with Innovate Recycle, with its Milton Keynes store being the pioneer in supplying categorized waste to the recycling specialists.
Harris emphasized the need for this initiative to resonate throughout the industry, asserting that the solution must not only be technical but must also capture the “hearts and minds” of industry players.
Phil Gammidge, representing waste management entity Biffa, another contributor of carpet waste to Innovate Recycle, highlighted the logistical complexities of handling such bulky materials. Gammidge stressed the urgency of discovering recycling avenues for materials, particularly as landfill capacities reach their limits.
