Recycle Your Old Mattress
If you cannot donate your used mattress to a charity organization, recycling it is another way to keep it from the landfill and get a second life out of its components. Many mattresses consist of at least 75% recyclable materials.
However, you can’t simply place a mattress in a curbside recycling bin. Instead, you’ll need to call upon a mattress recycling service to break down the bed into its recyclable parts for you, then donate them to the appropriate recycling centers.
Common mattress materials that are recyclable include:
Mattress recycling companies can repurpose these materials in various ways. For example, the wood from box springs can become mulch or animal bedding. Meanwhile, the fabrics and foams can find a second life in pillows.
Keep in mind that recycling your mattress probably won’t be free. You’ll need to pay the recycling company for the labor and time involved in breaking down your mattress. You may also need to pay to pick up your mattress if you don’t want to drop it off yourself.
Either way, recycling your mattress is an eco-friendly alternative to simply throwing it in a landfill.
How To Recycle Old Mattresses
American consumers dispose of over 50,000 mattresses on a daily basis. Most of these products end up in landfills, polluting the environment.
About 70% of the materials in a mattress can be recycled. The foam padding, for example, can be turned into carpet underlayment. The steel springs can be used for the production of building materials or recycled as metal scrap.
Currently, mattress recycling is mandatory in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. This service is available through the Mattress Recycling Councils Bye Bye Mattress program.
provides a list of recycling facilities in every state. Reach out to them to see what your options are.
Rhode Island residents, for instance, can ask retailers to pick up their old mattresses when they buy a new one. They also have the option to drop off their mattresses for free at local recycling facilities. Depending on the city or county, they may request a free pick-up.
If you live in Oregon or California, reach out to St. Vincent de Paul. The organization recycles over 300,000 mattresses and box springs annually.
Another helpful resource is Earth911. Simply enter your zip code in the search bar to find a recycling center near you.
Common Reasons Why A Mattress Lose Its Firmness
Some of the most common reasons your mattress is not that firm anymore are improper placement, insufficient care, heavy usage, and moisture.
Among those reasons, wrong placement and moisture are considered to be the most significant ones.
These two things are often the main factors behind loss of firmness.
With that being said, protecting your tempurpedic mattress from the two is essential in keeping your bed supportive and firm.
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Green Ways To Recycle Or Repurpose Your Mattress Topper
Mattress toppers last about 3 to 5 years. And when its time for yours to retire, its good to have options on how to dispose of or recycle your old mattress or mattress topper. Australia has around 1.25 million mattresses sent to the landfill each year. Thats a lot of rubbish!
Some mattress toppers are also made of toxic materials like flame retardants, formaldehyde, and phthalates which can be harmful to the environment. When they decompose, they can also release hydrogen cyanide, isocyanates, etc. which can easily contaminate soil and groundwater. So its actually quite dangerous to your community when you dispose of your mattress topper irresponsibly.
Before you think about chucking your old mattress topper in the bin, consider these 10 ways to recycle old foam mattress toppers.
How Often Should You Change Your Mattress
If you cant remember how many years youve had your mattress, the chances are its time for a new one. Even if it still feels comfortable, its likely to be less supportive and hygienic than when it was new.
Nearly a quarter of Which? members expect a new mattress to last more than a decade, according to a survey of 1,098 members in March 2021. That’s pretty optimistic, though. About a third said they’d expect it to last 8 to 10 years, which is about right.
The Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress as often as every seven years, because after that time it will have been subjected to more than 20,000 hours of use. Thats the equivalent of 2,555 nights, which is a lot when you consider that adults lose an average of half a pint of fluid each night, and shed a pound of dead skin cells each year.
If reading that makes you shudder, head over to our guide on how to clean a mattress
Our durability tests reveal that the best mattresses can last up to a decade without softening, sagging or becoming less supportive. As long as you buy a good mattress and clean it regularly, you might be able to eke an extra few years out of it.
Buying a new bed frame won’t necessarily extend the life of your new mattress, but be aware that using a mattress with an inappropriate bed frame might invalidate its warranty. Take a look at our bed shopping tips to find out more.
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Consider Reselling Your Mattress
Are you just planning to move out and dont want to take bulky things with you? Or are you looking forward to buying a new mattress with a better design and make? If the mattress you have is a relatively new one, reselling it would be a good choice. Doing this helps you recover some of the cash you used to buy it. You can do this in two ways:
- Organize a garage sale. Aside from your mattress, look into your other belongings and decide which of them youd be willing to let go. Collaborate with friends. Ask them if they have any pre-loved items to sell alongside your things. Doing this helps you offer more options to potential customers.
- Post an advert on different online platforms. Write an online advertisement with a detailed description and realistic picture of the bed. Include your contact numbers. And post this advertisement on different sites, including Facebook, Craigslist, eBay, Bonza and other platforms. Who knows one of your friends is urgently looking for the kind of mattress you have.
As you find a new owner for your bed, make sure that it is still fully functional. Do not resell your mattress if it has lumps, noisy springs, projecting coils, and sagging parts. These structural defects could cause a lot of discomfort to its new owner, preventing them from enjoying a good sleep. You wouldnt want them to wake up with body aches and the urge to return the bed.
Alternative Bedding Like Floor Quilts Old Sofa Or Bean Bag Filler /stuffed Animal Filler
The fabric and foam in your mattress could be reused as a Bean bag or stuff toy filler. Upgrade your old sagging sofa by filling it with memory foam. This can be done by taking professional help.
You can even use it to make quilts. The top layer of a king-size memory foam mattress has enough layering and can be converted into a thick Floor quilt.
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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.
Is There A Way I Can Responsibly Dispose Of My Foam Mattress
Whether youre cutting up a mattress to refurbish it or to remove it, its a good practice to find an eco-friendly way to get the job done!
A growing number of states have made recycling mattresses a no-brainer because of the passage of strict junk disposal laws. You also have the option to donate a mattress to a local non-profit organization such as Goodwill or Salvation Army. Knowing how to cut up a foam mattress for disposal includes disposing of the smaller pieces at a local recycling center.
Would rather not deal with it on your own? Let us help!
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Donate Your Memory Foam Bedding
If your memory foam bedding is in fairly decent condition then donating it may be an option.
For example, good quality memory foam mattresses tend to last around 6-8 years .
And if yours isnt sagging, heavily indented, stained, or infested with bed bugs, then you may be able to give it away along with your topper or pillows if you have them and they are also in good nick.
The best thing to do is contact a local charity and ask them FIRST if they would be interested in taking your old memory foam mattress or bedding items .
Youll typically find that lightly used mattresses in good condition will be accepted by the Salvation Army , Goodwill Industries , Habitat for Humanity, and Furniture Bank Association .
In the UK, the British Heart Foundation will accept mattresses and upholstered bed bases with fire labels click here to book a free collection.
How To Donate A Mattress
Only consider donating your mattress if it is in decent shape. If its in really rough shape , then all youll do when you donate your mattress is create more work for the charity or organization you donate it to, who will have to figure out how to dispose of it soon after you leave it with them.
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Option : Resell It Or Give It Away
If your mattress is in good shape and recycling or donating arent options for you, try reselling it. You may not make a ton of money, but you never know someone in your network might need a used mattress and be interested in purchasing it from you. Take advantage of your social media channels by posting that you have a used mattress up for grabs. You can also utilize online marketplaces like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, or Craigslist. Just post a picture of your mattress on one of these sites and offer up a price. When all else fails, you can list it as free on Craigslist.
Donating Your Mattress Topper
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Use It For Outdoor Daybed Garden Benches Or For Camping
Putting pillows or foam beds outdoors can be quite daunting because of weather changes. The good news is, theres no guilt in using an old mattress topper as an outdoor daybed or cushioning for your garden bench. You can even use it as padding under sleeping bags so you can have comfort and elevation from the soil.
How To Get Rid Of Your Old Mattress
If youve made the decision to invest in a new mattress or are simply turning your guest room into an office when you have an old mattress to dispose of, you have several good options:
- Buy a new mattress from a manufacturer or retailer that will manage the disposal of the old one.
- Donate your old mattress to an organization that accepts them.
- Take it to a mattress recycling organization.
- Find a new home and new owners for it.
- Hire someone to pick up your old mattress.
- Reuse and repurpose it.
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Find A Home For Your Old Mattress
If you are replacing a mattress that is in good condition or have a like new mattress you no longer want, you may be able to sell it to someone who doesnt want to pay full price for a new model. The market for these gently used mattresses with no significant wear or damage is found primarily online.
Craigslist allows you to place a free ad that will appear in your local area. Anyone interested in your mattress can then contact you directly through the Craigslist website. Social media platforms like are another alternative where you can spread the word among family and friends that you have a mattress for sale. All you have to do is post a description and photograph on your profile page.
When considering whether to sell your old mattress or donate it, its best to follow the Golden Rule. If you wouldnt want it, then its likely not good enough for anyone else either. Your best bet may simply be disposal.
Hire Someone To Pick Up Your Old Mattress
If there are no recycling centers or charities near you that provide pick-up services, and you have no way to transport your old mattress, contact the sanitation department in your town or city and ask if they provide bulk collection services that include mattress pickup. Many of them do, though it may require a special work order and removal on a day other than your typical trash collection day.
If your sanitation department is not an option, then you will need to hire someone to pick up your old mattress. There are local and national services available ranging in cost from $99 $300. Fees are either based on weight or volume or are calculated as a flat per-item rate.
- Most towns have local businesses that provide junk removal services, or you can reach out to one of the better-known national companies to see if they service your zip code.
- 1-800-GOT-JUNK will remove any household item, including mattresses, for one all-inclusive price. This includes any mattress infested with bed bugs if you alert the company in advance and if you have had a pest control service treat and wrap the mattress prior to the arrival of the truck.
Source: 1-800-GOT-JUNK
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How Can This Be Fixed
Not everybody is going to be on board with recycling their used beds. They would much rather take them to the dump with their weekly load. For those who are looking for a solution to the problem, there has been a special act instilled called the California Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act. This act is aiming to reduce the illegal dumping of used beds, increase the recycling amount, and reduce public agency costs for the end-of-use management. It has been implemented since December 30, 2015.
Reuse Or Repurpose Your Old Mattress
A final option for dealing with your old mattress is to break it down and reuse or repurpose it yourself. Once a mattress is disassembled, its various parts can be sold for scrap, recycled, or used in unique and creative ways around your home or office. Some of the most innovative uses are noted below.
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