What Do Companies Do With Old Mattresses
After buying a new mattress, most of us fail to acknowledge what has happened to our old mattress. It is disposed of, but how? If the thought has ever crossed your mind, we are here to answer you. The green mattress disposal companies take the steps forward as and when your old mattress hits the junk.
Are old mattresses recycled?
Some junk removal companies are seriously dedicated to providing eco-friendly services and they recycle the mattress you do not use any longer. But many other companies directly take it to the landfill for disposal. Some of the mattresses from there are taken for recycling while some others are donated.
During the process of recycling, the companies consider the materials and scrap of which the mattress is composed of. They have other resources to use these which are not easily accessible by a common man. The useful materials of the mattress, like fibre filling, metal springs, or wood are taken out and processed to manufacture a new mattress. The remaining materials get utilised in other processes.
How does the recycling process work?
The discarded mattress is first picked up by the junk removal company and is dropped at the recycling facility. Other similar objects are also dumped in the same area. The next step involves the personnel investigating for the presence of bed bugs. To prevent the infestation of the bugs, the infected mattresses are taken somewhere else for destruction.
Getting Your Mattress Ready To Donate
Some good nation-wide charities for collecting used mattresses include Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity.
These organizations are usually willing to accept just about any kind of mattress so long as theres nothing wrong with it, but be sure to double-check your local outlets policies before driving off with your mattress.
Charities will not typically accept mattresses that are broken, stained or unsanitary.
Also be sure to let you charity know if your mattress is coming from a home with pets or cigarette smoke.
Many people who come to these organizations are in poor health, and the last thing they need is for their new mattress to make things worse.
This is especially important for people with asthma or allergies.
You definitely shouldnt let this keep you from looking into donating, but just be sure to let the charity know.
Extending The Life Of Your Mattress
There are a few ways you can extend the life of your old mattress but its not recommended. Old mattresses tend to have sleepers tossing and turning during the night, due to sagging and more. They also have the ability to negatively affect a personâs overall health. Dust mites are unfortunately a common mattress issue that can cause many health problems, especially in allergy and asthma sufferers.
Sleeping on an old mattress can even be stressful, proven by a bed-based study which concluded that sleeping on a new mattress increases sleep quality and reduces back discomfort.
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How Long Should A Mattress Last
According to Consumer Reports, theres no one-size-fits-all timeline for when you need to replace a mattress, but a good mattress can last around 10 years. A mattress that you have used consistently for seven years or more warrants an evaluation.
Your personal timeline for getting a new mattress will depend on a number of factors including how sensitive you are to changes in your mattress, whether you suffer from any health issues such as back pain, whether your sleeping situation changes , and whether you prefer a soft, firm, or bouncy-feeling mattress.
How To Dispose Of Your Mattress
You could also consider listing the mattress for free on forums like Facebook or CraigslistIdeally, a mattress would last forever. But the sad truth is that mattresses change over time and will eventually need replacing.
The process of researching which comfortable new mattress to buy is the fun part but then you have to figure out what on earth to do with the old one that you dont need anymore.
Some retailers, including Raymour & Flanigan, Casper, 1-800 Mattress, and Mattress Firm, will offer a removal service for an old mattress when they deliver the new one. But thats not the case with every retailer, so whats the best way to dispose of a mattress in that scenario?
This article will cover how you can tell when its time to replace your mattress and dive into the options available for mattress disposal including large trash pickup, donation, and recycling. We will also offer tips for selecting a new mattress and how best to care for your mattress to keep it functional for as long as possible.
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Understanding Normal Versus Bulk Trash
Your neighborhood waste management service is designed to pick up the normal trash that accumulates throughout the week. They typically have specific routes they must follow as they pick up all the trash in the area. These routes are planned according to the size of the trucks and the amount of trash typical households generate. Bulk trash is usually considered to be anything larger than what will fit into a large garbage bag, including mattresses, large appliances, and even smaller pieces of furniture, such as chairs and nightstands. For these types of bulk pickup, Dallas residents usually have to make alternate arrangements.
As A Last Resort You Can Trash It
Finally, if there’s nothing else left to try, you can probably throw the old mattress out with the rest of the trash, or have it hauled away. This may or may not require a fee and/or advance arrangements. Check local, state or city ordinances for any specific rules for mattress disposal in your area. If not done properly, you may end up getting handed a ticket or fine, so be sure to do your research before leaving your mattress on the curb.
Some places require you to wrap your mattress tightly in plastic, while others ask that you acquire a specially crafted mattress bag to use. There are also likely to be certain days when you can put large items curbside for trash pickup.
Private waste removal services may also be able to help you. You’ll need to contact each one to get their rates, which can vary significantly.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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What Happens To Old Mattresses
Today, 45% of mattresses are bought online and do not include mattress disposal. Not all in-person retail sales will necessarily offer mattress removal either. Some mattress delivery services will take away your old mattress, but if they dont, youll have to find an alternative waste disposal service.
About 36 million mattresses are purchased in the United States each year, and over 20 million old mattresses are thrown away in landfills. That is a significant amount of waste in our community landfills and represents a large impact on our local environment. Teresa Nees of Mesa County Solid Waste in Colorado, explains,
Those mattresses are made so they dont break down well. They also dont break down in our landfill. They dont squish very well, they take up a lot of air space, and those wires can get tanged up in our equipment.
There are several alternative ways to dispose of your mattress that wont take up this type of space in your local landfill.
Signs You Need A New Mattress
After youve had your mattress for about seven years, you should begin inspecting it for wear and tear. If you start to notice any of the below signs, its probably time to get a new mattress.
There is no exact time to get rid of your mattress, however, if you start to notice any of the above signs impact your sleep, it may be time for a new one.
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Break Your Old Mattress Down
Mattresses fill more than 100 million cubic feet of landfill space every year. If you want to dispose of your mattress and box spring in your trash or in a landfill, consider breaking them down first to reduce the amount of space it will take up. Cutting it down may be your only option if you are using a rental dumpster or want to try to dispose of a mattress in your regular trash.
Not all dumpster companies allow mattress disposal, so check before tossing your mattress. You can easily break down a mattress and box spring using some simple tools and elbow grease. Some mattress components such as the metal springs, may be recycled, with the remaining parts like the mattress foam can be disposed of in your trash.
You can also use certain parts for DIY projects. Save some of the wooden slats from box springs for lawn mulch, or shred the polyurethane foam for carpet padding or pet bedding.
Give Away The Mattress
Does your neighborhood have a junk day, in which residents might put old furniture or other features on the curb to be picked up for free? If your mattress is in good shape, you can bring your things out to the curb on junk day. If you dont, you may be able to use an online source such as or Craigslist to sell the mattress. You may even be able to donate the mattress to Goodwill or a similar store so that the mattress can be bought by someone who needs it for an affordable cost.
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Addremove Is It Free To Recycle My Mattress At The Landfills
Mattress-only loads are accepted for free at our Prima Deshecha and Olinda Alpha landfills for residential customers. If bringing a separated mattress along with waste for disposal, standard landfill fees will apply for the waste disposal. The mattress must NOT be soiled or contaminated. See list of acceptable and non -acceptable items in question #1 above.
Commercial businesses may recycle mattress-only loads for free at the Frank R. Bowerman, Prima Deshecha and Olinda Alpha landfills if eligible for recycling at . See list of acceptable and non-acceptable items in question #1 above.
Put This Chore To Bed And Get Mattress Haul Away Help Today
If you have an old mattress, bed frame or box springs that you need to throw out, we can take your junk items for disposal from anywhere inside or outside of your home or office. We know how heavy and awkward to carry your old bed is. Dont pull a muscle. Simply get connected with local professionals that hustle when it fits your schedule.
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress: Free And Paid Options
These are your options for getting rid of an old mattress, from recycling programs to trash pickup.
KJ Callihan
KJ Callihan is a freelance writer with a background in mental health and education. Her writing often covers product reviews and lists, animals and pet care, food and hospitality, health, wellness, and culture. When she isn’t crafting the perfect sentence, you may find her bingeing true crime documentaries, browsing mid-Michigan farmer’s markets, and tasting her son’s latest homemade cuisine
So it’s time to say goodbye to your worn out old mattress, but you aren’t sure how to dispose of it. While most of us would rather not add to the nearly 20 million mattresses that pile up in landfills every year, the alternatives may be trickier than they appear.
Recycling or donating mattresses seems like a simple enough endeavor, but the task can actually be quite challenging. Per the New York Times, some charities aren’t allowed to accept mattresses due to concerns over bed bugs or health department regulations, certain recycling programs have become less profitable and therefore less available, and many states don’t have recycling programs at all.
Plus, since foam fluctuates wildly in its profitability, some of the popular online mattress brands offering 100+ night trial periods don’t always stick to their promise of recycling or donating returned mattresses — a claim that potential customers may view as a good reason for purchasing.
Consult The Mattress Recycling Council
In California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, you are legally required to recycle mattresses through a program administered by the Mattress Recycling Council, which costs between $10 and $17 per mattress. To get rid of your mattress in these locations, you will need to have your mattress removed by the retailer when your new one arrives or deliver it to a certified recycling facility yourself.
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Municipal Mattress Collection & Recycling
Apply for MassDEP grant funding. The Recycling Dividends Program will provide payments to your municipality for implementing specific waste reduction, reuse, and recycling policies and programs. Your town or city may in turn use RDP funds toward specific solid waste management and recycling expenses, including collection, transportation, and processing of mattresses and other materials that are difficult to manage. See RDP & Small-Scale Initiative Approved Spending Categories and Additional Resources below to learn more.
Use a recycler on state contract. Municipalities and certain public entities may use the FAC90 Statewide Carpet & Mattress Recycling Services Contract to select vendors that either accept mattresses on a per-unit basis or provide collection container rental and hauling. Mattress recyclers currently on state contract include:
How Much Does Mattress Removal Cost
Mattress removal costs can range from $10 up to $700, depending on the number and size of the mattresses youâre getting rid of, as well as the service you choose and your location.
The average cost of a junk hauling service is $297, which usually covers 9 cubic yards, or 3 pickup truck loads, of junk.
If you are getting rid of multiple mattresses as well as other household junk, a dumpster rental will be the most economical option. The average cost of a 20 yard dumpster rental is $447, which includes more than double that amount of debris and can fit multiple mattresses and box springs.
When you rent a dumpster for mattress and box spring disposal, you can choose a container size that fits the amount of trash you have. And you can keep your dumpster on-site until youâve finished cleaning up, making it the timelier and more efficient disposal option.
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Drop Off At A Recycling Center
Ryan Drobel, a waste disposal specialist in Chicago, says,
The thing Im most surprised by is just how much nobody knows what to do with their mattresses. It seems like the majority of people are not aware that there are so many reusable materials in them.
Recycling a mattress and box spring is a great alternative to dumping it in a landfill. According to the Mattress Recycling Council, more than 75% of a mattress can be removed and recycled, including the memory foam padding, fabric coverings, steel springs, and wooden frames. Find out if your local recycling center accepts mattress donations.
It gets deconstructed into its various components, and those various components get bailed together and sent to recycling plants to get turned into new products, explains Daniel McGowan of the Mattress Recycling Council.
Some recycling centers refurbish used mattresses and then sell them at a discount over a new mattress.
Taking The Mattress To The Landfill
If your is able to transport your mattress themselves, you may want to take it directly to the landfill rather than waiting for a trash pickup service to collect it. Your local landfill or dump may charge a fee to accept the mattress.
Pros
You may be able to take a mattress to the landfill on your own time, rather than waiting for a scheduled pickup appointment or bulk trash day.
Cons
You need to transport the mattress themselves, which will typically require a large vehicle. You may have to pay a fee for the landfill to accept the mattress.
Additionally, this is not a great option from an environmental standpoint. Landfills are already overflowing with waste, and mattresses contribute to that problem. According to a Seattle Times article, mattresses can cause issues for landfill equipment during garbage compaction: Mattresses dont compact well. Even worse, the mattress springs pop out and get tangled in the equipment, often damaging it.
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Disposing Of Your Mattress
