How do dispose of old carpeting?



Removing old, dingy carpet is one of the best ways to upgrade an area in your home or office. Carpeting is subject to spills, accidents, animal hair, foot traffic, and harsh cleaners. Allergens stay in the carpet fibers and the padding underneath. Replacing carpet enhances the look of a room and may also help calm your allergies.


That’s all great, but how does one properly dispose of and recycle carpeting? As it tends to be heavy and bulky, you can simply set it out on the curb for the dump truck to pick up. You may haul it to your local dump, but that can be challenging and time consuming, not to mention bad for the environment.


Carpet made from renewable or natural fibers is typically biodegradable. Synthetic carpet, on the other hand, is not biodegradable and should be kept out of landfills. So too should natural fiber carpets.


The reality is that most kinds of carpet and padding can be recycled. Some can even be broken down and repurposed into new products.


It goes without saying that carpet should not be burned. Carpet contains chemicals that are toxic to humans, animals, and the atmosphere when burned. In addition to being bad for the environment, controlled burning can turn into an accidental wildfire.


Our experts always stay up to date with modern options for banishing junk by donating, recycling and salvaging when possible.