A backing or an intermediate layer for a surface covering is described
which comprises a fused recycled material, wherein the material comprises
a thermoplastic material, for instance, a vinyl material from a vinyl
backed carpet or vinyl backed carpet manufacturing waste or both. Surface
coverings containing the backing or intermediate layer of the present
invention are also described as well as methods of making the backing or
intermediate layer and methods of making the surface coverings containing
the backing or intermediate layer of the present invention.