Frequent Mattress Recycling Questions
Why should I recycle my mattress?
Roughly 80 percent of materials in the average mattress can be easily recycled, yet each year in the U.S., we throw out 15 to 20 million mattresses, and they take up 40 cubic feet of space in a landfill.
Are thrift stores allowed to sell used mattresses?
As mentioned above, all local affiliates are different as to what they accept. But assuming that your mattress is 10+ years old and covered in dead skin cells, dont count on donation being an option.
St. Vincent de Paul has its own recycling program in California and Oregon that recycles 170,000 mattresses and box springs annually, so its possible your local store will accept and ship them for recycling.
What types of recyclable materials are in mattresses?
Your standard mattress is comprised of a wood frame, steel springs, polyurethane foam and an outer fabric. During recycling, the top layer of fabric is cut, peeled and separated to expose the remaining materials.
Metal springs are sold as scrap metal, as steel is one of the most commonly recycled materials in the world. The wood is often chipped or used for mulch. The foam can be recycled into carpet padding, and fabrics can be recycled into industrial machinery filters.
Are box springs recyclable?
Yes. Box springs are comprised of a wood frame, steel coils and cotton outer layer . They have a very similar recycling process, and are usually accepted with mattresses for recycling.
How do I dispose of air mattresses and waterbeds?
Options For Mattress & Box Spring Recycling
Donate to a Charity. Use MassDEP’s 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 community’s 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:
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.
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.
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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.
However, you do have options when it’s time to get rid of your old mattress. Depending on the condition of the mattress and where you live, you may be able to donate it, recycle it or even have it picked up. Here’s what we recommend.
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Option : Repurpose It
If you love to DIY, break down the mattress and box springs yourself. Mattresses contain a variety of useful materials including steel, polyurethane foam, memory foam, latex foam, natural fibers, wooden parts, nails, screws, and much more. You can use the materials for a variety of purposes including:
- Recycling the parts: Remove the steel parts and springs from your mattress and sell them to local scrap yards and scrap metal recyclers in your area. If your mattress includes cotton, wool, silk, polyester, or rayon, those materials can be recycled as well.
- Home projects: The foams and cotton in your old mattress can be used for several things around your home. They can be shredded and used as carpet padding, insulation, filters, seat cushions, pet bedding, pillows, and more.
- Gardening: Break down the wooden parts of your mattress and use them for gardening. When shredded, the wood works great for lawn mulch. You can also use the wooden slats to create a compost bin.
- Arts and crafts: The fabric that covers your mattress can make a great DIY rug and memory foam padding can be cut into small sizes and used as cleaning sponges. There are also screws and nails in your mattress that can be used for arts and crafts.
- : The coils and springs of your mattress can be melted down and made into various objects such as plant and candle holders, ornaments, bird feeders, and much more.
When in doubt, check out for even more ways you can repurpose your old mattress.
Choosing A New Mattress
When youre deciding what mattress is the right one for you, consider your lifestyle. First, consider what type of mattress do you want? Do you prefer foam? Latex? Spring? Next think about what size mattress is right for you. Do you sleep alone, or do you share your bed with a partner or furry friend? There are a lot of mattress choices out there, so check out our Mattress Buying Guide to help you get started.
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How Long Does A Memory Foam Mattress Last
Memory foam mattresses tend to perform well in our durability tests. Of the 52 memory foam, foam and latex mattresses weve reviewed, over 90% of them earned four or five stars in our lifespan test. The remaining mattresses got three stars, which is average or acceptable.
However, in the past we have uncovered memory foam mattresses that failed our durability test completely.
And just because you buy a memory foam mattress, it doesnt mean you dont still need to rotate it regularly, so there’s no less maintenance than with a pocket sprung option.
All in all, we wouldnt recommend buying a memory foam mattress solely for the durability, unless it provides the support and comfort youre looking for as well.
Find out more about how to buy thebest memory foam mattress.
Can Old Mattresses Be Recycled
Yes, mattresses can be recycled and the practice is fairly common. Through mattress recycling, approximately 80-90% of the mattress can be reused. Thats quite a lot of material that can be reused and turned into new products!
What parts of a mattress 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 cant simply be left out for pickup with your regular recycling. Youll often need to find a facility that specializes in mattress recycling, and youll need to transport it there on your own.
Why is recycling a mattress is good for the environment?
When you decide to recycle your old mattress, you help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in your local landfill. Many parts of the mattress need to be recycled, as they take decades to decompose if they end up in a landfill.
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Recycling Mattresses With Bedbugs
Mattresses with bedbugs can be recycled at the transfer station and landfilldepending on the level of contaminationfor the mattress recycling fee.
Prepare a mattress with bedbugs for safe transport, handling, and recycling.
Learn about controlling bedbugs External website, opens in new tab in a Vancouver Coastal Health guide.
Ask The Council To Collect Your Mattress
You can ask your local council to collect the mattress. Many provide a bulky waste collection service. Often this includes beds and mattresses. Be aware, however, that this may be expensive. Not only that, your mattress could end up in a local landfill. Many authorities say theyll recycle some of the old waste or as much of it as they can.
Not all councils will charge you. Some offer a free mattress collection service. These are in the minority, however. Why not contact your local council and ask them whether they charge for bulky waste collection?
Often youll have to leave the items in a specific spot outside your house. If youre doing away with your bed and your mattress, these will count as two items. Youll pay a charge for each item.
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Return The Mattress To The Manufacturer
If youre purchasing a new mattress to replace the one you want to get rid of, ask the retailer if you can take your old one and return it to the manufacturer. With an estimated 50,000 mattresses being disposed of each day in the United States, many manufacturers are taking on the task of mattress recycling themselves.
Disposing Of A Mattress In Connecticut
Here are your options for disposing of a mattress in the State of Connecticut:
Mattress retailers, hotels, universities, hospitals, military facilities and other businesses that want to dispose of mattresses can also do so at no cost with the help of our Commercial Volume Program.
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Can You Throw Away A Crib Mattress
Crib Mattress.
crib mattressesYou canmattress
Then, how do I dispose of a crib mattress?
Dispose of your mattress in a safe and responsible way:
Beside above, what do you do with old mattresses? Donated mattresses must still be usable, so they can be used again.
Everything You Need To Know About Mattress Disposal
When your mattress is no longer supporting your body the way it once did, you will find yourself waking up feeling sore and stiff. Think of your mattress as the gear you need for your sleep. On average, mattresses need to be replaced about every eight or 10 years. This means every decade or so, you need to find out how to get rid of an old mattress. In most places, you cannot simply put an old mattress at the street curb and expect the regular garbage truck to pick it up. Plus, your neighbors probably wouldnt be too appreciative of you trying to do so. So, what is the right answer? What is the correct way to get rid of a 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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Mattress Pick Up Services
Lifting a mattress can be heavy. When you have to deal with a mattress and box springs, you can guarantee that youre going to have major issues on your hands. Wouldnt you prefer to protect your back? If so, you should choose us. Were trained to deal with heavy, bulky items. Well get rid of the mattress for you. This guarantees that you wont injure yourself. Well do the heavy lifting for you.
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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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:
- Foam
- Metal coils
- Wood frames
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.
We’ll Handle It From Here
Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal.
Through our collection companies, transfer stations, recycling centers and landfills, we focus on providing effective and reliable environmental services and solutions to make proper recycling and waste disposal effortless for our 14 million customers.
We are committed to the preservation of a Blue Planet®… a cleaner, safer and healthier world where people thrive not just for today, but for generations to come. Republic Services is experienced in meeting sustainability requirements and committed to providing environmentally responsible solutions to meet current and future market recycling and solid waste needs.
Our website access is limited to locations within the United States. Below you will find links to websites accessible to locations outside of the United States.
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What To Do With Used Mattress
You have five primary options for getting rid of a used mattress:
- Donate it
- Be clean and relatively allergen-free
- Never have had bed bugs
Consider why you are purchasing a new mattress. If it’s because your old one is no longer supportive or comfortable enough for your needs, it may still suit another person. But if your old mattress is excessively worn out, dirty, or damaged, your best bet is to dispose of it.
Next, you should consider whether you have the means to take your mattress out of your house and transport it to another location. Ask yourself questions like:
- Do I have friends and family available to help me lift and carry the mattress?
- Do I have a vehicle big enough to hold the mattress, or am I willing to rent one?
- Am I willing to put in the effort to transport the mattress myself?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, you have more disposal options available to you. If not, you may need to pay a company to do the work for you.
