How To Throw Away An Old Mattress

Before Your Mattress Disposal

Every year, the United States disposes of 18.2 million mattresses, many of which end up in landfills. Whether youre a tree hugger or not, you should take the time to make sure youre disposing of your mattress properly. Leaving it by the curb on garbage day might not work and few people can be bothered to transport an old mattress to the dump themselves, so what do you do?

Before you start stressing about what to do with your mattress, consider these options:

• Check your mattresss warranty.
• Research your states policies.
• Talk to your mattress store.

If youre lucky, youll be able to get rid of your old mattress at the same time your new mattress is delivered. Unfortunately, if youre just looking to offload an old mattress and youre not immediately replacing it, your options may be somewhat limited.

Can An Old Mattress Cause Allergies

Yes, old mattresses often cause allergies. If you have allergy symptoms only at night time, your mattress could be infested with dust mites! They are one of the most common household allergens and like to hide in the cotton folds of your mattress. If you think this is the case, its best to get rid of the mattress immediately and get a new one that is dust mite resistant.

• Inner-Spring Mattresses

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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Disposing Of A Mattress In Other States

The Bye Bye Mattress program is run by the Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit organization formed by the mattress industry to operate recycling programs in those states that have enacted mattress recycling laws. The program is currently running in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island and funded by a recycling fee collected when consumers buy a mattress or box spring.

If you are living in a state without a mattress recycling law, you still have options for disposing of your used mattress! Check out our directory of whats available in your state here.

Disposing your mattress doesnt have to be hard! And you can do it while being environmentally conscious.

What To Do With An Old Mattress

When it comes to getting rid of an old mattress, there are a variety of options out there. None may be as simple as just tossing the mattress into the dumpster behind your apartment building or leaving it on the curb, but they are much more responsible and eco-friendlier. Here are four options to consider.

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Gathering The Proper Tools

First off, youre going to need the right set of equipment to handle this task. Normally, you should be able to find most of these supplies at your local hardware store, as theyre typically common.

Youll need a saw, a bolt cutter or wire clippers, boxes to store any loose parts you get from the process, eyewear to protect your eyes, some durable gloves, preferably cut-resistant ones, a good pair of pliers, a utility knife and a box cutter. Make sure that you get all of these, as you dont want to make multiple trips back to the store.

How Long Should A Mattress Last

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. We reckon thats pretty optimistic, not least because there are some common misconceptions about the lifespan of a mattress. A third of members expect a mattress to last around 8-10 years, which is about right.

You might think that a mattress will last longer if its bought as part of a set with a new bed base. But while buying a new bed frame is no guarantee your new mattress will last, using an old or incorrect bed frame with your new mattress certainly isnt going to lengthen its lifespan, and it may well also invalidate your warranty. Take a look at our top 10 bed shopping tips.

If you think spending more on a mattress means it’s likely to last longer, think again. While investing in an expensive mattress will likely mean you get better-quality fabrics and fillings, it’s no guarantee of a longer lifespan. Weve tested £200 Best Buy mattresses that perform better in our durability tests than mattresses costing more than 10 times as much.

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How To Throw Away An Old Mattress

In some areas, garbage services will take just about anything from furniture to heaps of boxes to old, unwanted mattresses. While some cities may allow you to leave large items by the curb, others dont, and you could incur a hefty fine for doing it. Before you drive around looking for a dumpster to appropriate, look into some other options.

Here are a few options for throwing out an old mattress:

• Local Waste Disposal Services Even if your local waste disposal service wont take a mattress off the curb, you may be able to call and schedule a pickup. Some services charge a fee for picking up large items, but it may be your best option.
• Load Up With branches in all 50 states, Load Up is a junk removal service that takes all kinds of junk and bulk items they even accept mattresses with bed bugs, given prior notice.
• 1-800-Got-Junk Another junk removal service, 1-800-Got-Junk will come and pick up your mattress from you. Just be aware that they do NOT take mattresses with bed bugs.

Throwing away a mattress should be your last resort but, if you have no other options, there are responsible ways to do it. If you have an old mattress on your hands that youre looking to get rid of, go through the four options listed above first.

How To Get Rid Of An Old Mattress

There comes a time in everyones life when it is time to get rid of their old mattress. There are a lot of questions that come up on the best way to throw away your mattress. Not only are mattresses hard to carry but they also can not be thrown away in a normal garbage truck. Depending on the city you live in, the laws and regulations on how you need to dispose of your mattress correctly. Here are the three ways you can properly get rid of your old mattress.

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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 person’s 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.

Donate A Mattress Topper To Charity Organizations

There are several nationwide charities where you can donate your used mattress topper, including:

• The Salvation Army
• Furniture Bank Association of America

There are also local charities that will accept used mattress pads, including:

• Womens Shelters
• Homeless Shelters
• Thrift Stores

For regular mattress protector pads that are no longer usable for beds, you can use them for making diaper changing pads, quilts, pillows, etc., and then donate the finished products to a nearby shelter or other charity.

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Break The Mattress Down Yourself

If you have the time, space, and tools, you can easily break a mattress down yourself. Simply cut around the perimeter of the fabric covering and peel the cloth and foam away from the box springs and wooden frame. You can roll these materials into a compact bundle and put them in your regular trash can. Next, take a saw and cut up the framewhich you can then burn or turn into wood chips. Take the box springs to a recycling center or sell them for scrap.

Given that mattresses can be so difficult to dispose of effectively, you may want to factor durability into your purchasing decisions. Some mattresses come with warranties that range up to 20 years. With proper maintenance, its not impossible for mattresses to last for decades, which can go a long way toward reducing your households overall waste footprint.

Remove The Cord From The Edges

For this part, use your utility knife to get rid of the piping thread. Follow the thread to its end, then you tug until it comes loose from the bedding. Do this for every side until it is done.

You can recycle the thread for other uses or donate it, whichever is most convenient for you. It could be beneficial to keep if you think it can be repurposed.

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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.

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 Joy Broussard for details, [email protected].

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Check With Your Local Trash Collection Service

In some areas, municipal curbside services will remove mattresses during weekly collection days or on specified bulk pickup days. Reach out to your townâs trash and recycling service to see if this is an option in your area and how items should be prepared for pickup.

How To Throw Away Your Mattress

Your mattress must be replaced every 5 to 10 years because the springs wear down and will no longer provide support over time. So how should you dispose of that old mattress. Our furniture removal experts are here to provide you with some tips on your next steps.

Ask the Manufacturer about Returns

If youve recently bought a new mattress, you may be able to return the old mattress to the manufacturer. There are many manufacturers that are now offering return services to ensure safe disposal of their products.

Give Away the Mattress

You may be able to give away or even sell your mattress if its still fairly new and still in good condition. Todays mattresses are designed to last for a decade or more if its properly taken care of. Offer the product for free in your local newspaper and in online classifieds like Craigslist before sending it to the junkyard.

Donate to a Non-Profit

In many cases, you will be able to donate a mattress to a non-profit. The non-profit will be able to find a use for the mattress, either giving it to a family in need or by recycling the materials.

Break Down the Materials

You may be able to break down the material of the mattress yourself for easy disposal. But this is not recommended due to risk of injury. You can cut around the perimeter of the fabric and peel the cloth and foam away from the box spring. This allows you to place the remaining materials with the rest of the trash for collection.

Find a Recycling Program

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Addremove What Other Options Are There For Mattress Recycling In Orange County

Residential and commercial customers may find additional recycling options through the Bye Bye Mattress locator search tool here. Keep in mind that some events and recycling options may be impacted by COVID-19 and may have limited services. It is recommended you contact the location prior to bringing a mattress for recycling.

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Disposing Of Your Mattress

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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.

Can They Be Recycled

Companies like Soft Landing, a national social enterprise operating across 4 states of Australia, have been coming up with creative ways to repurpose up to 75% of the materials found in your old mattresses.

Soft Landing divert mattresses from landfill and recover as many of the components as possible. They convert steel springs into steel roofs, the timber frames are turned into mulch and the mattress foam is turned into carpet underlays. By doing this, they help to protect the environment and secure jobs within local communities.

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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