Carpet recycling is just magic

Old carpets are now ‘magically’ disappearing from HuntersLane and Burton Farm Household Waste Recycling Centres(HWRCs) following the recent introduced of a new facility to recycle used and unwanted carpets and rugs.

Unwanted carpets made from natural or synthetic fibres,including underlay which is not suitable for reuse orresale, can now be deposited at the recycling centres in Rugby and Stratford-Upon-Avon, where they will be sorted by the recycling advisors and collected for recycling.

All the carpet received at the recycling centres are checked, shredded and distributed to local stables and horse owners for equestrian use. Mixed with sand, the material makes an ideal surface for horses in ménages or
training areas.

Cllr Helen Walton, Warwickshire County Council’s spokesperson for Waste Management, said: "By recycling carpets Warwickshire residents will play their part in preventing a valuable resource which would otherwise be
destined to go to landfill.

"We welcome the introduction of the facility to recycle and reuse carpet at Burton Farm and Hunters Lane Household Waste Recycling Centres, and we hope to ‘roll out’ the scheme across the county to all Warwickshire sites in the
near future."

Victoria Paffett, Sites Manager at Warwickshire County Council, added: "Not only are we helping the environment by saving the resources needed to make new materials, we are also contributing to a significant financial saving on
the costs of disposal. This year’s landfill tax is costing £56 per tonne, which does not include the landfill gate fees on top of that."

Recyclers should not include carpet tiles, gripper rods or any other contamination, which could potentially harm the horses. Please speak to a recycling advisor on site if you have any queries about what can and can’t be accepted.

If your carpet or rug is suitable for reuse please think of alternative options before recycling, ideas include: give rugs to family, friends or neighbours, use an online donation site, keep your bunny hutch warm in the winter, donate to a charity or even use carpet as a weed suppressant in your garden!

Details about Warwickshire County Council’s nine recycling centres, including information about the opening times, location and the materials we recycle can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hwrc

If you have any questions about recycling or disposal please contact the Waste Management Team on 01926 412593 or
email waste@warwickshire.gov.uk.