In the US, carpet production can reach up to 1.8 billion yd2 annually. Unfortunately, each year, 1.75 million tons are disposed and less than 5% of carpet is recycled. With very little recycling infrastructure, The Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) product stewardship initiatives included establishing principles of product stewardship and setting process and selecting priority products (electronics with CRT, paint and, carpet). Unfortunately, the barriers to recycling are numerous, like identification of face fibers, lack of collection infrastructures, and lack of market development. However, with the help of Midwestern Workgroup participants on carpet recycling, OEA's product Stewardship objectives are spurring clean product design, reducing product life cycle impacts, relieving government of full management costs, and showing that the economics benefits of recycling are now within reach. 

The lack of individual manufacturer initiatives and the lack of laws or regulations explain the status of stewardship activities. 

The outcome of the Midwestern Workgroup is the following three-part initiative:

1- Manufacturer responsibility, which includes an agreement to collect and process discarded carpet and the Third-Party Organization (formed to achieve the negotiated outcomes, funded and managed by carpet manufacturers)

2- Some negotiated outcomes including process to determine recycling and reuse rates

3- Model Procurement Guidelines (recycled-content, take-back procedures, indoor air quality, membership in the initiative).