Check into alternatives before sending old or unwanted carpet to the landfill

Tiger Shark, Australia
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

In Western Europe, over 1.6 million tonnes of carpet is thrown away each year and most of it was replaced for reasons other than wear. Replacing a carpet is not only economically expensive, but also environmentally costly. Much modern carpet is made of plastics and is not biodegradable, so finding ways to prolong the lifespan of carpet is an important part of reducing the toxic waste we create.

If you're just tired of the color, find out a service that will re-dye your carpet rather than replacing it. These companies can also restore an old carpet to its original quality. Several companies now also offer carpet recycling services, or your local authority may collect carpet to be recycled. If you have a garden, carpet can be used as mulch to suppress weeds.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth' by Philippe Bourseiller

Personal Note: Here is a link of an interesting article about Interface Inc., one of the biggest carpet Industries, which has resolved to become a sustainable company by 2020. Mission Zero is their active website about ideas and recent news articles relating to this cause.