New York to Ban PFAS in Carpet Beginning December 2026
A New York state law will ban the sale of carpet containing or treated with PFAS “for any purpose” starting December 31, 2026—following in the footsteps of other states, such as Colorado and Maryland, which have already forbid the intentional use of so-called “forever chemicals” in carpeting.
Like those states, the law broadly defines PFAS as “a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.” The term “carpet” is also defined expansively, encompassing most manufactured articles that are:
- Used by consumers;
- Placed on walking surfaces (including outdoors); and
- “Primarily constructed of a top surface of synthetic or natural face fibers or yarns or tufts attached to a backing system made of synthetic or natural materials.”
Handmade rugs, area rugs, and mats are excluded from the law’s scope.
The ban was originally set to take effect in 2024, but state lawmakers postponed its implementation in 2023. To date, it does not appear that any New York lawmaker has proposed legislation to extend its effective date again, however.
This prohibition is part of New York’s broader carpet extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework. As discussed in a recent post, the EPR program will require that carpet manufacturers fund a carpet collection program and phases-in post-consumer recycled content requirements.
According to a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) webpage, the agency is currently “in the preliminary stage of developing” regulations to implement the program and its associated requirements.
