By Werner Braun
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On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded into flames as gallons upon gallons of oil began spewing into the Gulf’s dark waters. Now at day 81, the oil continues to leak as residents of the Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas coasts watch the oil roll onto their beaches; affecting jobs and tourism, the local wildlife — their livelihoods.
Again, I know you are asking yourself, “What does carpet have to do with oil?” Little did we know that an oil spill would give our industry another opportunity to show how we “CARE” (Carpet America Recovery Effort).
As the oil spill is becoming the worst in American history, emergency responders have already implemented booms and skimmers to help protect sand dunes and the beautiful, white sandy beaches. But local officials in Walton County, Fla., have sought more protection with a carpet defender known as GeoHay.
Geo who?
GeoHay, the environmentally friendly barrier filtration product that is made from 100 percent recycled carpet fibers, usually including nylon, polyester and polypropylene. GeoHay can also conveniently be used over and over again because it is non-biodegradable, strong and durable.
So how does GeoHay work? Designed for erosion control, the recycled fibers allow water to flow through its structure while trapping suspended sediments such as oil. More than 2,000 feet of retention fences and GeoHay now line Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Beach. Even though Walton County has reported only limited damage thus far, GeoHay is in place to prevent any oil from overrunning its beaches.
GeoHay is a substitute for staked hay bales and silt fences that are normally used to meet the permit required for temporary erosion control at construction sites. Unlike hay bales, GeoHay’s reusable feature makes them more appealing because they do not fall apart or decompose with use.
Georgina Sikorski, executive director of CARE, said in a report with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office: “Even though GeoHay was designed for erosion control and not for absorbing oil, it makes perfect sense to use it that way.”
Sikorski also noted that GeoHay is addressing two environmental needs: “The immediate one, which is to protect beaches and wetlands, and CARE’s long-term goal of reducing waste going to landfills.”
GeoHay is one of many creative uses of old carpet. And thanks to CARE, more and more folks are finding creative uses for their old carpet. The group reported that more than 300 million pounds of used carpet was kept out of landfills last year, turning 80 percent into other consumer products.
In addition to forming GeoHay for erosion control, used carpet fibers can be turned into construction materials, coal substitutes, plastics and new carpet.
NyconG is a reinforcing fiber for concrete and other construction materials. It is made from 100 percent recycled carpet and carpet backing. The manufacturer promises the material lowers production costs and may be eligible for tax credits and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credit savings.
KeLa Energy uses recycled coal waste and used carpet fibers to create an alternative energy source that burns cleaner, hotter and more efficiently than coal.
Los Angeles Fiber and several other companies make new carpet from your old carpet. Other companies are making a variety of plastics, including bottles and car parts, from used carpet fibers.
Finally, other options for reusing before recycling your carpet include:
• Cover compost heaps and worm compost bins to trap heat and moisture.
• Cover a field of weeds with carpet. Within weeks it will all be dead and you can replant with new sod or other plants.
• Find a new home for the carpet on Craigslist or FreeCycle.
• Check with your local animal shelter. It may want the used carpet patches for its cat cages.
• Put it in a greenhouse to keep plants off the cold floor.
No matter what, don’t throw away old carpet. Even if it doesn’t stop the oil spill, it can certainly be put to good use.
Werner Braun is president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute.
