Business Description: Modular Carpet Recycling (MCR) is poised to become the leader in carpet recycling solutions using patented clean technology for safe and 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 operating its first commercial plant.

Opportunity: Over three 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 and cost effective 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 less than 10% 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 regional plants.

Management: Founder and CEO Ron Simonetti has 22 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. 

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.  Renewlon®  CONTENT with virgin nylon will allow for increasing amounts of post consumer content in fibers for new carpets manufactured.  MCR’s test data shows no effect on the polymer’s melting point, molecular weight or any other mechanical properties from its process. 

Life cycle of Nylon containting carpet can be repeated and reused avoiding landfilling vs. cradle to grave products like PET fiber carpets which eventually end up in landfills.