Through our relationship with the Environment Agency (EA) waste exemptions team, we were contacted and consulted on a review that is taking place on some of the historical frameworks that are in place for our sector. As part of a regular review process, the EA was questioning the applicability and relevance of certain LRWPs and requested that we consult with the sector.
As a trade organisation we want to be the voice in the sector and be proactive for both members and non members. It is our duty to represent the carpet and textile flooring industry.
The relevant positions being questioned are:
Treating waste carpet and carpet tiles for recovery: LRWP 8 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) This has to do with waste from the carpet manufacturing sector, not post-consumer carpet
Storing and recovering cropper dust and carpet shearings from carpet manufacture: LRWP 9 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) This is about ‘wool rich’ carpets and using the dust and shearings as a growing media or in green roofs
Storing waste carpet from the manufacturing sector: LRWP 10 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We have now shared this consultation with our network to gauge how many members are aware of these positions; who is using them and in what capacity and whether there will be any negative effects should these be removed.
The varied responses received so far include:
- We don’t manufacture in the UK so these do not apply to us;
- Do these positions only apply to England or do they include Wales and Scotland;
- These are no longer applicable to us;
- No one should still be using dust shearings as growing media and green roofs;
- We do not store as much waste on site and therefore do not fall within the thresholds;
- Does this mean we can no longer use carpet off-cuts in productions;
- We didn’t know that these existed.
Although we have responded to the EA with our findings, the consultation is still open but only for a week or so. So if you have not already and would like to respond, please do so ASAP to info@carpetrecyclinguk.com