DALTON (May 15, 2009) — Mohawk’s recognition as Recycler of the Year by CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort) is the latest in a series of awards given to the company’s innovative recycling system, the Mohawk GreenWorks Center. And it indicates the potential that the technology offers to address the challenge of resource recovery from billions of pounds of discarded carpet nationwide.

“We are greatly appreciative of this particular award because it is recognition from our peers who are actively engaged in solving the very complicated issue of carpet recycling in the country and beyond,” said Frank Endrenyi, Vice President of Sustainable Development for Mohawk. “We’re very pleased that our technology was singled out as an example by this group of experts.”

“We wanted to create a way for our industry and communities to manage carpet recycling cost effectively and efficiently, with minimal waste left,” said Endrenyi. “And we wanted to make a system versatile enough so that it could handle the realistic mix of fiber types and constructions that come into a recycling center. The Mohawk GreenWorks Center does this.”

The Mohawk GreenWorks Center is unique in that it can process not just nylon 6 but also nylon 6,6 and polypropylene. What's more, the Mohawk GreenWorks Center uses patent pending technology to process 100% of the carpet-fiber, backing, and latex--and recover approximately 90% of all materials. More than 15 million yards of recycled carpet have been processed through the first GreenWorks Center pilot facility, with the recovered material used in a variety of applications, from carpet applications to automotive and other thermoplastics.

The Mohawk GreenWorks facility is also easily replicated without a huge capital investment. Additional centers can be built in strategic locations to make recycling more feasible and it can also be scaled for the amount of material that needs to be processed. The GreenWorks Center also has the capability to process certain thermoplastic non-carpet recyclables, which makes it even more attractive to recycling companies.

“Mohawk is a founding member of CARE and we are dedicated to its mission—finding market-driven solutions to divert post-consumer carpet from landfills,” said Jenny Cross, senior sustainability manager. “This is a huge undertaking that requires the support of the entire industry, including manufacturers, retailers and distributors. We encourage everyone to visit the CARE website, become a member, and help make a difference.”

Earlier this year, the Society of Plastics Engineers gave the Mohawk Greenworks Center international recognition with its 2009 Global Plastics Engineering Conference Recycling Award. This award program recognizes worldwide companies that have created innovative ways to address recycling challenges for plastic materials.

Mohawk is the leader in recycled and renewable flooring. Mohawk currently diverts more than three billion pounds of pre- and post-consumer waste from landfills, and this number continues to grow. More than 500 Mohawk products—carpet, carpet tiles, cushion, laminates, and ceramic tile—contain recycled materials. Recycled materials come from Mohawk processes and from a range of other products, including old tires, roofing materials, old wood furniture, soft drink bottles, carpet, and others sources.

To learn more about the Mohawk Greenworks Center, visit the company’s website devoted exclusively to Mohawk green projects: www.mohawkgreenworks.com. Learn more about CARE and become a member at www.carpetrecovery.org.