Carpet tiles have a design life well in excess of actual life. Currently there are limited options for recycling, or reusing uplifted carpet tiles, with cleaning and reuse being one of the only available options. However this option provides only a very limited solution. Companies such as Spruce Carpets in Glasgow provide this type of service and are ensuring that several tonnes of tiles per year are given a valuable second life.
On a social basis this is providing training to get people back into work and Spruce were recognized for this with Social Enterprise of the Year Award 2008 by Scottish Business in the Community. This service is also being developed in England and Wales. Recycling of tiles at the end of their useful life is being stimulated by rising landfill costs and European recycling goals. Quadrant are founder members of Carpet Recycling UK and together we are working in several promising areas:
Energy recovery from waste – testing has shown that the calorific value of bitumen backed tiles is acceptable for replacing hydrocarbon based fuels in cement kilns. Developments are active to get the correct particle sizes to meet the combustion needs of various UK kilns. The first commercial process is expected in 2009.
Material recovery and reuse in alternative products – most notably in roadbuilding based on a patented process developed by Econpro. The bitumen content can be used along with other recycled materials to create a high recycled content roadstone, with nylon pile fibres enhancing the performance. Recovered tile materials are being evaluated by Bradford University in acoustic and thermal insulation materials.
The creation of an economical collection infrastructure for end of life tiles is also being pursued by Carpet Recycling UK with waste management companies who are experienced in handling commercial and industrial wastes and separating them for recycling. Whilst separate marked collection bins at large sites can take uplifted tiles plus fitting wastes, local bulking facilities will also be needed to cover the smaller contracts. These local bulking facilities could then take all flooring wastes and sort for recycling. This approach is also being considered by the plastics industry, and synergy across construction suppliers must be encouraged.
The ultimate goal will be for raw materials to be separated after size reduction of carpet tiles in a way that results in high purity, which can lead to reuse of nylon fibres in engineering polymers, and the bitumen residues recycled as above. Deconstruction of any composite product to high levels of purity will be very dependant on virgin raw material pricing trends, and the separation technology for bitumen extraction.