Dalton—Clear Path Recycling, a joint venture company established by Shaw Industries and DAK Americas, began processing operations last month. Since 
construction began on the recycling facility, 57 full-time positions have been created.
The Recycled PET (RPET) from post-consumer PET bottlesprocessed through Clear Path Recycling is now being used as recycled content to significantly enhance and expand Shaw’s ClearTouch family of residential carpeting products. “Shaw’s ClearTouch products will utilize the RPET produced through the Clear Path Recycling operation,” said David Wilkerson, corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship. “Consumers are seeking environmentally friendly products for their home at an increasing pace and ClearTouch carpet styles deliver performance and style along with the environmental advantage of certified 25% recycled content.”
Opened to produce RPET, Clear Path Recycling will bring the first phase of its Fayetteville, N.C. facility to full capacity in the fourth quarter of this year. By the end of the first phase, the operation will consume up to 160 million pounds of PET bottles, which will save over 550,000 cubic yards of landfill space each year.
Producing polyester yarn with recycled content also requires less energy than a completely virgin product. The operation will save approximately 1.4 trillion BTUs of energy annually, which is equal to the amount of primary energy necessary to power over 10,000 U.S. homes per year, according to Energy Information Administration data, and will contribute to Shaw’s aggressive 25% energy intensity reduction pledge.
Clear Path Recycling currently maintains approximately 20 million pounds of inventory that will be processed into RPET for use by Shaw and DAK Americas.