Carpet is Recyclable!

In 2017, five billion pounds of carpet went into America's landfills, but that doesn't need to be the case. As of February 2021, Santa Barbara County Public Works is accepting carpet for recycling! How cool is that?

Santa Barbara County participates in the Carpet America Recovery Effort, a non-profit that administers the California Carpet Stewardship Program. This program is dedicated to helping reach the statewide carpet recycling requirements set in AB 2398.

Carpet is made out of various plastic fibers that give the carpet its plush feel. This plastic can be recycled into plastic pellets that are used to create decking, auto parts, new carpet, and more! Wall-to-wall carpet, carpet squares, and carpet pads are all recyclable.

Please note that at this time we cannot accept artificial grass or area rugs in this program. These items can be donated or resold if you no longer need them.

Check out this video for some helpful carpet recycling tips:

Reduce Your Carpet Waste

If your carpet is in good condition, try donating it or selling it with options listed below.

If you're replacing or installing new carpet, consider using carpet squares instead of large sheets. That way, if part of the carpet gets stained, you can replace just that square. Good news for all parents!

Where to go

• All of Santa Barbara County (3)

  • Craigslist —
  • E-Bay —
  • Junk Recyclers — 6520 Platt Avenue #650

• Santa Barbara Area (2)

  • *South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
  • MarBorg Industries — 119 North Quarantina Street

• Goleta & UCSB Area (1)

  • *South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (1)

  • Vandenberg Air Force Base Balfour Beatty Communities Self-Help Store — 603 Juniper Street

• Outside Santa Barbara County (5)

  • Earth911.com – Information Only — 3481 Plano Parkway
  • Interface —
  • Los Angeles Fiber Company — 4920 Boyle Avenue
  • Shaw Green Edge —
  • Tandus Centiva — 311 Smith Industrial Boulevard