Can I recycle ... carpet?

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Most carpets are composed of a mix of synthetic and-or natural fibers with nylon, polypropylene, polyester or other materials. They cannot be recycled in L.A.’s blue bin. L.A. homeowners can put small sections of carpet in their black trash bins. Larger pieces of carpeting can be handled as a ‘bulky item pickup’ free of charge by the Bureau of Sanitation, as long as the carpet is first cut into 4-foot lengths and tied into rolls not exceeding 60 pounds. Requests for bulky item pickup can be arranged online or through the bureau’s call center, (800) 773-2489.

Beginning July 1, all carpet sold in California will be assessed a 5-cent-per-square-yard stewardship assessment fee. The fees will be managed by carpet manufacturers and used to recycle old carpet, to increase recycled content in new carpet, to design carpet for easier recycling and to develop new products from old carpet. The Environmental Protection Agency says carpet and rugs account for 1.4% of all U.S. waste; more than 6.9 billion pounds are disposed of annually across the country.

Can you recycle carpet in:

Arcadia: No

Burbank: No

Glendale: No

Irvine: No

Los Angeles: No

Pasadena: No

Riverside: Yes

Santa Ana: No

Santa Monica: Not curbside. Carpet can be recycled through the Santa Monica Transfer Station and costs $20 for up to 600 pounds.

Torrance: No

Unincorporated L.A.: No

Ventura: No

— Susan Carpenter

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