Legal Ways To Dispose Of A Mattress
When deciding where to throw your mattress, it is important to consider local laws on disposal. It is illegal to dispose of a mattress in a landfill, so if youre not careful, you could face a fine or even incarceration. The best way to dispose of a mattress is to contact your local waste management department and inquire about mattress disposal rules. You may also be required to pay a fee if you want to dispose of a mattress in the trash, so check before you go!
Another legal way to dispose of a mattress is to donate it to a charity. Not only will this keep your mattress out of a landfill, but youll be helping someone else find a comfortable place to sleep. These organizations are often glad to accept old mattresses and can make them more comfortable for those in need. You may even be surprised at how much good a used mattress can do for another person.
The environmental advantages of recycling your mattress make it one of the most sustainable ways to dispose of a mattress. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of mattresses end up in landfills every year, putting more waste into our planet than they can be recycled. However, according to the Mattress Recycling Council, 80% of mattresses can be recycled. You can look online to see if your mattress is recyclable, or find a local mattress recycling service.
How To Throw Away A Mattress
If none of the above options works for you, your last resort would be to throw away the mattress. This option is best suited for mattresses that are no longer usable, are excessively dirty, or have experienced bed-bug contamination. If your mattress is in an unsafe or unsanitary condition, disposing of it can reduce the risk of spreading this contamination elsewhere.
While throwing your mattress away may seem like the easiest option, you’ll still need to follow specific procedures to dispose of the bed properly. For example, you may not realize that dumping a mattress is illegal in most cities. You can’t simply place your mattress in a dumpsterdoing so could leave you with up to $10,000 in fines or even incarceration.
Instead, you’ll need to dispose of your mattress in one of four ways:
- Taking it to a landfill
- Setting the bed out on heavy trash day
- Breaking it down and throwing it away in garbage bags
Keep in mind that the availability of each of these options depends on your local waste removal regulations. You’ll want to be sure you understand your city’s policies before proceeding.
How To Figure Out When Its Time For A New Mattress
Before you plan how to get rid of your mattress, you should consider whether you actually need to dispose of it.
Generally, people get rid of mattresses when they purchase a new one. Here are a few signs that it may be time to buy a new mattress:
- Sagging: If your mattress has begun sagging in the middle, it can no longer provide adequate support. Buying a new one can save you the back pain that may occur when sleeping on an unsupportive mattress.
- Discoloration: Mattresses typically change color slightly over time due to the oxidation of the outer cover. However, if your mattress is excessively discolored, it may be time for a new one.
- Allergies: Innerspring mattresses accumulate dust, dirt, skin cells, hair, and other allergens over time. If youve begun experiencing allergies in the mornings, it could be time to replace your mattress with a fresh, allergen-free one.
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The Fee & Where To Recycle
- The fee collected per unit in California applies to mattresses and box springs sold as of December 30, 2015. The recycling fee, as approved by the state, is $10.50.
- California residents can drop off their old mattresses and box springs at no-cost at a participating collection site or event. Unit limits vary by location and a residency restrictions may apply. We recommend contacting the location prior to drop-off.
- A $3 incentive per unit is available at select locations. It is limited to 5 units per vehicle per day. The incentive is only available for residents dropping off their household units.
- Businesses may make their own drop-off arrangements with participating recyclers or sites that accept commercial volume. Those with at least 100 units may qualify for no-cost transportation. See the Commercial Volume Program page or contact Mattress Recycling Council for details, [email protected].
Recycling An Old Mattress
Landfills in the Seattle area are packed with mattresses that people throw out every year. What most people may not realize is that if more mattresses were recycled, not only could it create more jobs in the recycling industry but it would also lessen the impact of greenhouse gases. All from mattresses! Before you put your mattress out at the curb for trash, consider how you could recycle it to help the environment. Even if your mattress is in too bad of shape to be reused by someone else, you can still break it down and recycle the pieces. Metal springs, wood frames, and fabric can all be recycled if you take the bed apart.
However, if you dont want to rip it apart but still want to recycle, there are plenty of ways to do that in your city. Below, weve pulled together an index of resources illustrating the mattress recycling policies in your area so you can keep it out of the landfill. Since each city and county may have different recycling policies, we have broken them down county by county as well as city by city so you will be able to find what you need for where you live.
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Check With Your Local Trash Service
While it is always a good idea to at least consider donation an explore the option, in all likelihood you will have to dispose of it instead.
Some communities will take part in a large disposal period where dumpsters are placed in town once a year to dispose of things like old tires, old furniture and worn out mattresses , but if your hometown does not engage in this practice, or if it is several months away, it may not be a viable option for you.
A good first step if you are not sure where to start is to simply reach out to your local trash service to find out whether they will take large items like mattresses at all. Do not simply leave the mattress on your curb without checking, as you could end up with a fine from your city.
If they do accept mattresses as a part of regular trash collection, they probably only do so on specific days, and you will likely need to wrap the mattress in plastic before they will take it.
Though every service is different, many times it will not be possible to leave your old mattress for your regular trash service to collect, and you will need to explore alternative options.
Can You Donate A Mattress
If your mattress is still in good condition, consider donating it to charity or giving it away free. That way you can help someone in need, as well as ensuring that it doesn’t end up in landfill.
Organisations such as British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and Emmaus will resell your mattress and put the proceeds towards a good cause. Several other charities also accept mattress donations, so if there’s a cause you particularly want to support, its worth contacting the charity directly.
As a general rule, these organisations will collect your mattress free of charge, but they might request that you send images first to prove that it’s of acceptable quality. Any organisation accepting a mattress donation will expect it to be fit for use, clean and have a fire label intact.
Another way to ensure your mattress stays out of landfill sites is to use a non-profit initiative such as Freecycle, or your local equivalent group, which can put you in touch with someone in the local area looking for a free second-hand mattress.
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Are There Any Fees For Disposing Of A Mattress In A Dumpster
In some areas, there are fees associated with getting rid of a mattress. Mattress disposal charges apply when the local landfill or transfer station must break down or recycle the mattress. These charges come directly from the local facility and will apply whether youâre using a dumpster rental, curbside pickup or landfill drop-off.
The Mattress Landfill Crisis: How The Race To Bring Us Better Beds Led To A Recycling Nightmare
As the sleep economy grows, online companies vie to sell us new mattresses, offering 100-day returns. This has helped create an impossible waste mountain and a wild west of rogue recyclers
Mike Scollick and Richard Allsopp are talking about the worst things they ever found in a mattress. We had one where I think a dog had been lying on it, and the whole thing was just jumping with fleas, Allsopp says, shuddering. No one would touch it, so they had to use a cherry picker to move it. But thats not the worst of it, Scollick says: I stripped the cover off one once and it looked like somebody Died, interjects Allsopp.
Its fair to say you need a strong stomach to be in the mattress recycling game. Which Scollick and Allsopp have, along with several million pounds worth of equipment in their Coventry warehouse. I have come to see Circom, their mattress recycling firm, at work. Its a dirty but noble enterprise: Circom is one of only a handful of recyclers tackling the UKs ever-growing mattress problem.
And its not just a British problem. Mattresses are a global environmental nightmare. The US throws away 18.2m mattresses a year, but there are only 56 facilities available to recycle them.
Changing consumer behaviour is behind this ever-growing mattress mountain. Time was, you would change your mattress every eight to 10 years. But with online retailers offering more choice than ever, we have learned to expect better mattresses, and to replace them more frequently.
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So How Do You Know If Your Mattress Is In Good Enough Shape To Be Donated
Every charity, organization, and shelter has its own standards for what is acceptable for a donated mattress. However, there are a few standard guidelines:
Odors: Though people can sometimes be noseblind to odors in their own home, a particularly strong odor on a mattress should be noticeable to you. When in doubt, call in a third party, preferably one who you do not live with, to do a sniff test. If you find that the mattress has a slight odor, you can try sprinkling a layer of baking soda on the surface and letting it sit for a few hours. Afterward, vacuum off the baking soda, and then, if possible, let the mattress air outside. If the odor remains, you should reconsider donating the mattress.
In general, figuring out if your mattress is up to donation standards is a matter of common sense.
Make sure the mattress is structurally sound, clean, and free of any infestations or odors. The mattress is not going to help anyone if it cannot be used. Think about whether or not you would want to receive your mattress as a donation. If not, then consider other options.
If you feel that your bed is in good shape for donation, then thats great! You can move on to selecting the right place to donate.
Overview: Mattress Disposal In Tucson
Tucson has a variety of options for getting rid of mattresses and oversized furniture. While the city does not have a dedicated mattress recycling facility they do have a variety of options at your disposal, some of which are more eco-friendly than taking them to the landfill. From drop-ff and donation options to mattress pick up and removal services, we have listed all of the easiest and convenient ways to get fid of a mattress and all related accessories throughout Tucson, Oro Valley and the surrounding area.
With the rise in online mattress purchases, there is also a rise in the need for customers to get rid of their old mattresses, as online companies do not generally pick up old mattresses from their customers. This has given rise to more and more local options for residents to get rid of hard to dispose of items like mattresses and furniture.
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What Parts Of A Mattress Can Be Recycled
There are many parts of a mattress that can be recycled. Steel springs, wood frames, stuffing, and fabric are all contained in a mattress and can be recycled and reused in different ways.
However, mattresses are too big to be left out for pickup with your regular recycling. Youll need to find a facility that specializes in mattress recycling and transport it there on your own.
If you want to make sure all parts of your old mattress are recycled properly without the need to lift a finger, then our friendly and professional crew at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the solution for you!
How To Recycle Air Mattresses
Depending on the material an air mattress is made out of, it may or may not be recyclable. As most are made out of plastic, only some cities, municipalities and waste management programs have the capacity to recycle these materials. Electric air pumps can often be recycled for some of the individual components however these may have to be sorted separately. If you prefer, Junk 4 Good can do all of this work for you. We are more than happy to load, sort and determine what may or may not be recyclable with the local transfer station.
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Breaking Down Your Mattress
Where Can I Throw Away A Mattress
Are you worried about Where can I throw away a mattress? That was a past. We have come up with a solution where you can Earn Money by selling your old mattress.
Nearly 18.2 million mattresses are thrown away in the United States each year, with over 50,000 mattresses ending up in landfills each day. It is important that mattress owners dispose of their mattresses properly to reduce waste.
Generally, you should replace your mattress every ten years. This number will differ for each person based on the kind of mattress they have. Depending on how often you use your mattress and how well you take care of it, you may need to replace it.
Do you know how to dispose of a mattress properly? It doesnt do any good to leave it on the curb, and taking it to the city dump can be stressful. A bed thats not disposed of properly can lead to some hefty fines, so make sure you conduct some research first.
Following are the ways to Dispose your Mattress:
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Retailer Will Your New Mattress Retailer Take It Away
Many mattress retailers will take away your old mattress if you buy your new one from them. Some charge and a few offer the service for free.
Below is a table showing how much the major retailers charge to collect and dispose of your old mattress. Be aware that this service is only available if you buy a new mattress from them at the same time:
How Long Does A Pocket Sprung Mattress Last
Of the 81 spring mattress weve tested, more than half of them earn four stars or more in our tough durability tests.
After measuring the height, firmness and supportiveness of every mattress we test, we then simulate up to a decade of use by rolling a heavy barrel over the mattress 30,000 times. To do well in our durability tests, a mattress must maintain its supportiveness, firmness and height.
Our pick of the best pocket sprung mattresses will help you pick out a long-lasting option, but to maximise its lifespan you need to make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions for rotating or turning it.
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