Business Description: Modular Carpet Recycling (MCR) is poised to become the leader in carpet recycling solutions using patented clean technology for efficient regional processing of used carpets. No existing solution can convert waste carpet into such high-purity forms of nylon as MCR’s method. MCR has proven its technology through a pilot plant and currently building its first commercial plant.
Opportunity: Over five billion pounds of post-consumer carpet ends up in U.S. landfills each year. The nylon in the carpets, produced from crude oil and natural gas, is recoverable, however there is no viable process to produce high-purity nylon. Conventional processes for recovering nylon require large centralized facilities relying on the shipment of millions of pounds of waste carpet from cities around the country. The lack of good technology results in only 6% of waste carpet being recycled today. The purity of the nylon dictates the price it commands in the market. MCR’s technologies and process are capable of producing high purity nylon in smaller/regional plants.
Management: Founder and CEO Ron Simonetti has 20 years of industry experience in recycling, chemicals, plastics, and flooring/pad industries. He has held positions in sales, finance, and global business management with firms such as Foamex, GE, and DuPont. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from Drexel University. COO John Fink has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University and 18 years of manufacturing experience. He has recent experience as COO for a 40 million pound carpet cushion plant that converts waste into cushion finished product. John is responsible for day-to-day operations.
Products/Services: MCR’s process produces 99+% pure nylon 6 and 6,6. MCR was awarded a trademark for Renewlon™, MCR’s brand for recycled nylon products. MCR’s test data shows no effect on the polymer’s melting point, molecular weight, or any other mechanical properties from its process. The results of the molecular weight scan from the chromatogram and thermographic analysis show no significant differences between Renewlon™ and virgin nylon material.
