They're hoping to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills
ISHPEMING -- It's estimated that each year nearly two million tons of carpeting gets sent to landfills.
But one U.P. carpet store is hoping to reduce the amount of carpeting and padding that they throw away by participating in a carpet recycling program. Carpet Specialists in Ishpeming is partnering with Milwaukee-based Carpet Landfill Elimination and Recycling to recycle old carpet from the store's jobs. Currently, the store is only recycling the unwanted carpet from the jobs they perform, due to the high cost of paying for the recycling service. But store owners say they don't mind paying for the service if it helps the environment.
"Frankly, as our vans get full everyday, the thought of it all going to landfills and just sitting in there for our kids and grandkids down the line is not very appealing," says co-owner Scott Patrick.
Carpet Specialists was given a trailer to fill with the excess carpet and padding. They hope to have it filled in six to eight weeks.
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