When old carpet becomes dirty, stained, and overused, there comes a time where the vacuum cleaner is no longer going to cut it - it needs to be replaced. Whether it be during a renovation, a revamp of the lounge, or you’ve just bought (and are now gutting) a new (old) house - getting rid of old carpet is a real pain. However, it doesn’t have to be.
There are plenty of ways to dispose of old carpet in Sydney - you just can’t chuck it in the general, red bin (it most likely won’t fit anyway). Here are all the ways that you can remove and dispose of old carpet and underlay in Sydney.
How to remove old carpet flooring
First things first, let’s worry about how to remove old carpet before disposing of it. Are you going to do it yourself? Or hire someone to come and dismantle carpet flooring for you?
Clean the carpet
Before anything else, vacuum the carpet to get rid of any excess dust or dirt that remains trapped in the fibres. Carpet is notorious for trapping all sorts of debris from dust mites, to pet fur, and even dead skin! Clean the carpet before dismantling it to reduce the risk of it releasing years of accumulated contaminants into the air.
Dismantle the old carpet
Carpet flooring can usually be easily pulled up at the edges — start at a corner of the space and peel back the layer of old carpet.
If you’re planning to replace your old carpet flooring with a new one, ask your new flooring provider to dismantle the old carpet for you.
Cut carpet into smaller pieces
As you pull up the old carpet, use a utility knife to cut the removed portions into smaller pieces. This will allow you to remove the old carpet in smaller, more manageable sections rather than as a whole, which will be both heavy and bulky.
Separate carpet layers
Carpet flooring consists of several layers — separate these layers (if possible) so that each material can be disposed of correctly. Separating these layers will be easier for older carpets as the adhesive material holding them together is likely to have lost its strength.
The risks of DIY old carpet flooring disposal
If you are attempting to dispose of carpet flooring that has been installed for over a decade, you must take extra precaution when carrying out dismantling and disposal.
Old carpet flooring may have re-used hessian bags to form the carpet underlay. Re-used hessian bag material may contain friable asbestos that can break apart easily and contaminate the air, making it unsafe to breathe. The types of adhesive substances used for the carpet underlay may also contain non-friable asbestos that does not break apart as easily, but still pose a significant health risk.
You can check if the old carpet underlay contains asbestos by slightly pulling up the carpet and looking at the texture of the underlay. If the underlay is a smooth or solid surface such as rubber or foam, it is unlikely to contain asbestos. Carpet underlays with a swirled or dimpled pattern on the surface are more likely to contain asbestos and will require a specialised disposal service to prevent contamination to the rest of the space.
If it’s very old carpet - you’re better off calling in a professional, just in case!
Can you recycle old carpets and rugs in Sydney?
Currently, there are no recycling facilities in Sydney that can process the man-made fibres that are commonly found in old carpet material. However, there are other ways in which you can prevent your old carpet from ending up in a landfill.
Ways to dispose of old carpeting
Return to manufacturers
Some carpet manufacturers offer a take-back program where you can drop off old carpeting tiles. The fabric of the old carpet can be stripped, cleaned, and used in the making of new carpets, making it a sustainable option as opposed to outright disposal.
Reuse
Old carpets can be cut and shaped into a rug for continued use in a home. Larger pieces of carpets can serve as a doorway rug outside the home to prevent dirt from getting into the rest of the home, while smaller pieces of carpet can be used to line the bottom of plant pots or furniture to stop them from making scratches on the floor.
Council disposal
If you have no use for old carpeting, you can opt for a council removal service to collect and dispose of it on your behalf. Council removal services are not available on demand for urgent collection and must be booked in advance.
Rubbish removal service
Using a rubbish removal service (like Ridly) is the fastest and most convenient way to dispose of your old carpet in Sydney. We can assist with carpet and household rubbish removal — our rubbish removal services in Sydney can collect and dispose your old carpet as quickly as the same day of your request.