To understand why carpet recycling requires specialized equipment, it’s important to understand how carpet is constructed.
Carpet is not a single material—it is a bonded composite designed for durability, comfort, and long service life.
Face Fibers
The visible surface of carpet is typically made from:
- Nylon 6
- Nylon 6,6
- Polyester (PET)
- Olefin (polypropylene)
These fibers are valuable and recyclable, but only if they can be separated cleanly from backing materials.
Backing Systems
Backing systems provide dimensional stability and durability. Many contain:
- Calcium carbonate–filled latex
- Thermoplastic layers
- Multi-layer composite structures
These materials are tightly bonded to fibers, making separation difficult without mechanical processing.
Why Size Reduction Matters
Without size reduction, carpet materials remain entangled and inconsistent. Proper size reduction breaks carpet into smaller particles, liberates fibers from backing systems, and prepares material for downstream separation processes.