Dalton, Ga.—The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is extending the Voluntary Product Stewardship (VPS) program into 2019. The program was created in 2014 and inaugurated in 2015 as a voluntary, nationwide program, to support the carpet sorting network for diverting post-consumer carpet from landfills.
“We are delighted with the continuation of this vitally important program,” said Robert Peoples, CARE executive director. “We have some exciting developments underway to help secure new processes and market opportunities within our recycler community. The success and well-being of the CARE CSEs is important to this industry.”
VPS was designed to accept all applicable post-consumer carpet, regardless of polymer type or primary materials or construction along with providing financial assistance to qualified sorters who divert post-consumer carpet.
The program is available across the United States, except for states or municipalities that have Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation or other regulations for post-consumer carpet. CARE will continue to be the administrator of the VPS program.
“The extension of the VPS program is a positive move and we are looking forward to what the future holds for the program and our industry in terms of market-based solutions for carpet sorters, recyclers and manufacturers,” said Joe Yarbrough, CRI president.