Take The Mattress Apart And Get Crafty
Whats more environmentally-conscious than repurposing?
Equip yourself with the right tools, some patience, and get started.
According to zero waste thinker Antonia, you can turn the mattress into a fun DIY project. Its can be time-consuming, but if youre willing to work at it, it can also be worth it. For example, an old bed frame can become new again in numerous ways.
One way to go about this is to tear up the used mattress with a razor blade knife. Beware of sharp parts. Use protective eyewear and gloves to keep yourself safe. If you want the maximum usage potential from the materials, do your best to find and cut along the seams where the fabric was initially sewn together.
Then, let creativity take its course:
There are countless ideas. Let your imagination go to work and see what you come up with. And when you come up with something fun, take pictures and video and share it with us and the world!.
A wine rack made from old bed spring coils and wood
A bed frame
Use foam from an old mattress as padding when moving
Are There Free Mattress Disposal Or Mattress Pick
If you are after a free pick-up for your mattress, its worth checking to see if the company you bought your new mattress from will do this for you. If not, some charities such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army offer a free pickup get in touch to see if this is something that is available in your area. Donation Town also has an online directory of charities that pick up for free.
One of the most reliable ways to ensure free pick-up is to donate the mattress via Facebook or Craigslist and ask that the taker picks it up. Some curbside collection is also free, but this varies between the different municipalities, so check first.
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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What Options Are Available For Mattress Disposal
There are a number of ways to dispose of a mattress. Depending on where you live, some options may be easier than others, and some may be free while others will require you to pay.
In some cases, you will be getting rid of a mattress because you purchased a new one, in which case you can ask the new mattresss retailer if they offer a service to dispose of your old mattress.
Its also a good idea to research local options for large trash pickup, recycling, donation, or even creative reuse. Heres what you should know about five different mattress disposal options.
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.
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Disassemble And Use The Parts
Again, if youre quite handy, you can easily find ways to reuse the individual parts of your old mattress. By taking your old unit apart, you can easily find new ways to breathe life into its components.
The padding and stuffing can be turned into cushions and pillows. You can also find lots of ways to repurpose wooden frames. The metal springs and its actual material can also be turned into other stuff around the house. If youre crafty enough, you can definitely find lots of ways to reuse your mattress.
Consider Mattress Or Furniture Companies With Take
Some companies will offer the option that if you purchase a new bed from them, they will come and collect it several years down the road, when youre ready for a new mattress. They do this in the hopes that your next mattress will also be purchased from them.
This can be an easy and convenient way to dispose of your old mattress, if you feel confident that the company youre buying from will still be in business several years down the road.This service usually carries an additional fee at the time you buy your bed, but is sometimes free..
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A Guide To Mattress Disposal And Recycling Across The Uk
Buying a new mattress is a wonderful event. Especially when you realise that your old mattress was pretty past it, and your best nights sleep are ahead of you.
However, youre left with a cuboid-shaped puzzle: mattress disposal. Wondering how to get rid of your old mattress brings many questions. Can you take a mattress to the tip, for example? Can you leave it on the street? Is it ok to have an unseasonal bonfire night celebration?
Contrary to popular belief, old mattresses dont end up starring in global productions of The Princess And The Pea. Mattress disposal can result in large, multi-material objects ending up in landfill. Waste isnt good in any form, but mattresses are really large bits of waste, so its important to get this right.
Thats why weve researched the best ways to dispose of an old mattress, all of which are easy for you to follow, and good for the environment, too.
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UPDATE: The UKs coronavirus regulations have, unsurprisingly, had a rather significant impact on how easy it is to dispose of your mattress. While many of the services we discuss in this article are still operating under Covid-secure rules, some retailers such as Ikea have suspended their collection services. Always be sure to check the retailers website for more information on its Covid policy.
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Make Sure Youve Done This Before Mattress Disposal
Before you take any actions, you should do two very, very important things:
Youll need this information one day, anyway, so its never too early to learn more about your warranty conditions and state laws for mattress removal.
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How Do I Get Rid Of An Old Mattress
If youve purchased your mattress from a brick and mortar store like a furniture or mattress store, you are most likely having the mattress delivered to your home. Nearly every retail store will include the removal of your old mattress in the price of delivery if you desire. Check with the salesperson when you are setting up delivery and make sure they can remove your old mattress. You may also want to check that they follow through with recycling old mattress they pick up and they do not just end up at the dump and then a landfill.
If it is a smaller independent mattress retailer, they may or may not be taking the extra steps to haul mattresses to a recycling center that accepts them. Usually, larger chains are set up to take them to a recycling center where they are disassembled, and whatever parts can be recycled are separated. This is usually a free service or included with delivery costs, and would be the simplest, least complicated way to get rid of that old worn-out mattress. You wont have to wrap or load up a large, heavy mattress, so if this is a possibility save your back and some time. Let the professionals remove it for you.
Can Mattresses Be Put In A Dumpster Where I Live
If you are renting a dumpster for a home cleanup or specific project, contact our team to learn about accepted materials and mattress disposal rules in your area beforehand. There may be an additional charge for each mattress or box spring you are disposing of due to local fees charged by the landfill or transfer station.
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When Should I Get Rid Of My Mattress
You may be looking for ways to dispose of your mattress before you need to. The general advice by The Sleep Council is to get a new mattress after 7 or 8 years, or if you experience any of the following:
- It makes a lot more noise than usual.
- Youve seen a rise in allergies and/or asthma attacks.
- Its interfering with your sleep.
- In some parts, the mattress is visibly droopy or damaged.
- You frequently have muscular or joint stiffness when you wake up.
Although theres no specific method to tell if its time for a new bed, if your mattress isnt assisting you in getting a good nights sleep, its time to get a new one.
Donate To A Shelter Or Church
If your mattress is still in good, usable condition, shelters and churches might still be more than willing to take them off your hands. Just make sure to have it professionally cleaned before taking them to the facility youre giving them to, though. As old mattresses tend to have an accumulation of dust, sweat, dead skin, and other kinds of gross things, having them cleaned before giving them away ensures that theyre hygienic to be used by someone else.
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress The Right Way
AndreyPopov / Getty Images
If you find yourself with a mattress you no longer need, youre likely puzzled as to what to do with it. Donating or recycling a mattress is an eco-friendly alternative to dropping it off at the dump, but how does the process work? What about selling it, or donating your mattress to someone in need? Lets go over a few options for how you can dispose of your used mattress responsibly to make room for your new one.
How Do You Recycle Tetra Pak In Holland
You can dispose of your plastic packaging, tin and drink cartons in the container either in a plastic bag or loose. Make sure that the packaging material is empty . Use transparent bags if possible.
How are beer bottles recycled in the Netherlands? Look on the back of the label in the fine print for a small Statiegeld followed by a 0.10 or whatever amount it may be. The general idea is to bring the bottles back to the same grocery location you bought the drinks from.
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Can You Donate A Mattress
Absolutely! As long as your mattress is in good condition, it can be donated. This means your mattress should be free from stains, rips, or tears, and not be broken in any way. Each local charitable organization that accepts mattress donations will have slightly different standards for what they take, so its best to check with them before you drop it off.
Donate Your Used Mattress To Charity
Check with your local non-profits to see if any will be able to put the mattress to use. Depending on health department regulations in your area, organizations like The Salvation Army and Goodwill might be able to take a used mattress off your hands. Habitat for Humanity, churches, and homeless shelters can also be good places to check. Once youve secured a place that will take your old mattress, book a Dolly to bring your mattress to its new home.
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How Do I Know When To Get A New Mattress
There are several signs that it’s time to get a new mattress. These include:
Sleeping on an old mattress could have long term effects on your health, so its important to address the issue as soon as possible.
How To Dispose Of Your Old Mattress For Free
Depending on where you live in Victoria, you will either havethe option to leave your old mattress on your nature strip during a localcouncil annual hard rubbish collection period, or you can make an appointmentfor an annual hard rubbish collection. This municipal service is paid for withcouncil rates paid by local property owners. Contact your local councilfor specific details on their hard rubbish pickup service, which variesdepending on the council.
As explained earlier, just over half of mattresses sent towaste transfer stations are recycled in 2019.
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Options For Mattress & Box Spring Recycling
Donate to a Charity. Use MassDEPs Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory to find organizations near you that accept mattresses.
Find Out if Your City or Town Has a Program. The map below indicates which communities are enrolled in the MassDEP Mattress Recycling Incentive grant program, which subsidizes mattress recycling. An alphabetical listing of communities is also available.
See SMRP Municipal Grants and Additional Resources below to learn more.
Please Note: If your town or city is not part of the MRI program, please contact your local health or public works department to learn about your communitys mattress disposal requirements and/or available recycling options.
Use a Recycler on State Contract. Municipalities and certain public entities may use the FAC90 Statewide Carpet & Mattress Recycling Services Contract to select a vendor to either accept mattresses on a per-unit basis or provide collection container rental and hauling.The following mattress recyclers are currently on state contract:
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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, 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.
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress: The Basic Guidelines
If you want to remove a mattress from your home, the first thing to consider is whether it is good enough to be reused or whether it could be recycled. Americas Mattress Recycling Council claims that more than 80% of mattresses can be recycled, so consider this first before heading to the dump.
If, however, it really is the end of the road for your mattress, then it is essential that it is disposed of correctly. There are many companies you can hire to take a mattress to the dump for you, but bear in mind that extra fees may be charged for drop-off and breakdown of the mattress. If the mattress has odors, dampness, mold or bed bugs, check the guidelines with the removal company first, as it could be that the mattress will need to be dried out or wrapped before it is taken away.
If you have other household items to get rid of too, you might want to hire a dumpster although, once more, remember to ask the company if taking a mattress will incur any extra costs. Another way to get rid of your mattress is to break it down and dispose of the components separately. Check with the regulations in your state with regards to the proper disposal of materials such as metal and wood.
