Most of the carpet laid in US homes after the 1940’s is nearly all synthetic which does not decompose. Carpets contain pests, allergens and can give of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that is a strong indoor pollutant. This is why people are ripping out their carpets in favor of stripped back floorboards. So what happens to all the old carpets?

By 2012 it is estimated that due to no infrastructure to recycle old carpet there will be nearly 7 billion pounds dumped in the US alone. This is due to several materials that make up a carpet and which are difficult to separate for further processing. Some carpets are recycled and made into roof tiles and other home decorating items.