Boise South Junior High School Turns, Flooring Waste into a Sustainable Future

Each summer, schools across the country undergo renovations that breathe new life into aging facilities. Fresh paint, updated furniture and new flooring signal a fresh start for students and staff. But behind the scenes, these upgrades often generate thousands of pounds of waste, much of it destined for already overburdened local landfills. In Boise, Idaho, one school district is flipping that script.

The Boise School District (BSD) is setting a new standard for sustainable renovation practices through its partnership with Shaw Contract. At the heart of this effort is South Junior High School, where a recent flooring renovation became a model for how schools can reduce environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy.

A Fresh Look with a Deeper Purpose

When South Junior High School planned its summer renovation, the focus wasn’t just on aesthetics. The school’s leadership, in collaboration with Shaw Contract and local flooring dealer Dillabaugh’s Flooring America, saw an opportunity to make a meaningful environmental impact.

The school’s principal worked closely with the local Shaw Contract account manager to select a carpet tile design that reflected the school’s colors and spirit. The result was a custom EcoWorx® carpet tile that reinforced school pride while supporting a larger sustainability mission.

In total, 4,000 square yards of new Shaw Contract carpet tile was installed throughout classrooms, the media center and auditorium. But the real story lies beneath the surface.

Renovation Recycling Made Simple

The existing carpet tile, also manufactured by Shaw Contract, was removed and prepared for recycling through the re[TURN]® reclamation program.

Dillabaugh’s Flooring America removed the old carpet at South Junior High, palletized it on-site and transported it to their warehouse. From there, Shaw Contract picked up the material and shipped it back to Georgia where it entered the re[TURN] program to be transformed into new EcoWorx carpet tile. In total, 20,000 pounds of carpet tile became part of a circular economy with the goal of reducing landfill consumption in the Boise area.

This project was made possible by EcoWorx PVC-free carpet tile backing. For more than 20 years, Shaw Contract has invested in material health through EcoWorx, the first flooring product to be Cradle to Cradle Certified®. Since its inception in 1999, 6 billion square feet of EcoWorx has been installed globally, with 1 billion pounds reclaimed and recycled since 2006.

“The entire process was incredibly easy,” said Beau Yates, BSD Facilities & Operations Site Support Specialist and Hazmat Coordinator. “We were already aware that Shaw Contract recycles flooring, and this project reinforced how simple and impactful that partnership can be.”

This wasn’t the district’s first experience with carpet recycling. In 2023, BSD recycled 23,000 pounds of carpet from the Whitney Elementary School renovation. In total 43,000 pounds of carpet — roughly the weight of two yellow school buses — have been diverted from Boise-area landfills from the two school renovation projects, an impressive feat that underscores the district’s commitment to sustainability.

“Our goal is to design each project with maximum benefit to students and staff, while keeping costs as low as possible for materials and installation, as well as minimizing environmental impact. We aim to work with vendors who reliably deliver these goals,” said Alison Ward, BSD Sustainability Supervisor.

“We are very conscientious in our construction design and bid process. EcoWorx aligns with our procurement criteria and goals that, when possible, help us select products with a long life span, that are safer materials for human health and the environment, and are part of a closed-loop manufacturing,” Ward said.

“As an active participant in the community and as a steward of public resources, the BSD has a responsibility to ensure not only that students fully understand the academic and scientific value of living sustainably, but that leadership holds these same standards. BSD is committed to sustainability through strategic investments that benefit students, schools and the community,” according to Dan Hollar, BSD Public Affairs Administrator.