Option : Give Your Mattress Away
Why not reach out to your friends and family to see if anyone is in need of a new-to-them mattress. Just because you are ready for a new mattress a few years before its end date doesnt mean you need to throw it away. This is the ideal opportunity to give your mattress to someone else that needs it without having to stress about how to recycle it.
The Importance Of Investing In A Quality Mattress
With mattresses, you really do get what you pay for. A sturdy, high-quality mattress will keep you feeling comfortable and well-supported for years to come and some, like Hastens, may last generations. Cheaper mattresses may leave you feeling uncomfortable or even in pain after only a few years and require replacement. Thats why its so important to spend as much as you comfortably can on a good mattress that will last.
Comfort is subjective, but some good things to look for in a mattress include:
- The mattress holds your entire body and keeps your hips supported
- Its comfortable on pressure points such as your head, shoulders, hips, and knees
- Lets your muscles relax throughout your body especially those in your back
Shopping for a new mattress can be a daunting experience, but it doesnt have to be. If youre in the market for something new, check out my guide on how to choose a mattress.
Whether youre getting rid of your old mattress or looking for a new one, you shouldnt be losing sleep over your mattress!
Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD, D, ABSM FAASM
The Sleep Doctor
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.
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Whats The Most Responsible Way To Dispose Of A Used Mattress You No Longer Want Or Need
Because they are one of the bulky waste items that are the most difficult to dispose of in an eco-friendly way, mattresses are often the culprits of illegal dumping, frequently being left on sidewalks, beside dumpsters, and in alleyways.
The problem here is that hauling a mattress to the landfill means paying extra fees for disposal because mattresses are heavy and bulky, so they dont compact well and end up creating air pockets that fill with flammable and toxic gases when they sit in a landfill.
Unfortunately, trying to be more green about mattress disposal by having a mattress recycled isnt much easier. Mattresses and box springs are usually made up mostly of wood, steel, fabric, fiber, and various types of foam. While its possible to recycle over 90% of a mattress, the only mattress material that is easily recyclable is the foam.
Even though an old mattress is difficult to get rid of, that doesnt mean that letting it sit in a dumpsite to rot away is the best way to dispose of an old mattress.
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How To Recycle An Old Mattress
The eco-friendly option for mattress disposal is recycling your old mattress.
Since there are so many mattress companies and options, mattresses are made of varying kinds of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, wool, various foams and fabrics, and even animal hair.
If you take these various mattress components apart, you can often recycle most or all of your mattress to build new products, sell to scrap, or simply add to your firewood pile.
If you dont want to go to the trouble of taking your old mattress apart, there are recycling facilities that dispose of old mattresses properly.
They break the mattress down into its recyclable components and organize them by type.
If you are thinking to go the recycling route, here are some ways to find a recycling center near you:
- Earth 911. The program finds the closest recycling facilities based on your zip code.
- Heres a list of 100 recyclers to help you find the best option in your area.
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Throwing Out Your Mattress
In some cases, you may not be able to donate or recycle your mattress. It may be that your mattress isnt fit for donation, or you cant find a recycling center close enough that will take it. For whatever reason, youre unable to donate, give away, recycle, or upcycle your mattress, theres always the option to throw it out.
However, it is often not as simple as just putting the mattress out on the curb. Many states, cities, and towns have specific ordinances and rules about throwing away mattresses, some of which prohibit putting a whole mattress in the trash. In those places, a curbed mattress may not be picked up on garbage day, and may result in a ticket or a fine.
The rules regarding garbage disposal vary, and you can find the rules for your state and city with a quick Google search. If you live in an area where you can, in fact, throw out a mattress with your regular trash, make sure to carefully read any additional rules to avoid fines and/or pickup refusal. In most places, you will be required to wrap your mattress in plastic, and in some places, you will be required to wrap the mattress in a specially made plastic mattress bag. To be safe, cover your mattress in plastic and seal it shut with packing tape.
For those who cant curb their mattress at all, there are a few other options.
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What Parts Of A Mattress Can Be Recycled
There are many parts of a mattress that 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 are too big to be left out for pickup with your regular recycling. Youll need to find a facility that specializes in mattress recycling and transport it there on your own.
If you want to make sure all parts of your old mattress are recycled properly without the need to lift a finger, then our friendly and professional crew at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the solution for you!
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Will The Local Tip Take A Mattress
Your local tip will take old mattresses, but to get it there youll need a vehicle big enough to fit it in. If the boot of your car isnt big enough to fit the mattress when flat, you might find that it fits if you roll the mattress up as best as possible and fasten it using some rope.
But that’s a lot of effort to go to when the mattress might well just end up in landfill anyway. You might decide youd rather go to the extra effort of taking it to a dedicated recycling facility, or pay for the convenience of the council or a specialist disposal company to collect it from your house.
Will A Warranty Cover Any Of These Issues
In some situations, an issue with a mattress may be covered by the warranty. A warranty means that a company must agree to repair or replace its products in the case of defects or structural flaws.
Warranties vary between companies and even between different products made by the same brand. When you are considering a purchase, make sure to look at an items warranty to find out if any issues you have are covered in the mattress warranty.
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Option #: Giveaway Or Sell On San Antonio’s Craigslist
If your mattress is in decent condition, it is very probable that someone may want to use it. Believe it or not there are actually a lot of people who benefit greatly from saving a buck and purchasing a used mattress. PRO TIP: Make sure to take nice pictures and highlight the fact that your mattress DOES NOT have any stains and DOES NOT have bed bugs. This will put potential buyers minds at ease and increase the chances that someone will take it off your hands for you.
Introduction To Mattress Removal
Your old mattress most likely weighs a lot more than your new mattress and you probably have a box spring that needs to go as well. You will most likely need to find someone to help you haul your old heavy mattress around. If you dont have access to a truck, or a friend willing to loan their truck, then you may need to rent one. On top of renting a truck, you will need to find somewhere to dump the old mattress. Most places, like your local landfill or transfer station will charge you to take the used mattress, if they even take it at all.
This is why we have put together helpful options to guide you through mattress removal in a more modern, easy and eco-friendly manner at an affordable price point for your mattress disposal cost.But first, you will need to assess the condition of your mattress.
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Dead Skin Body Oil And Dust Mites Oh My
Since you spend about a third of your life in bed, you better believe that over time, your mattress starts to collect loads of dead skin and body oils. Who loves to snack on that stuff? Dust mites.
In fact, the typical used mattress can house as many as 10 million of the microscopic bugs, according to Ohio State University experts. And since even dust mites poop, that stuff is in your bed, too.
Pretty disgusting, right? Mercifully, the little buggers are invisibleand most of us seem to get along with them just fine. But if you suffer from allergies, sleeping on a too-old mattress can pose a problem. Dust mite allergies can cause sneezing, runny noses, itchiness, watery eyes, coughing, and sinus pressure.
It gets worse if you have asthma, which can be exacerbated by dust mites. Then, you could be at risk for difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or even trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath.
Of course, even a mattress thats a few months old can have dust mites, just not as many as what would be in an older mattress or worse, a secondhand mattress. And since you cant buy a new mattress every year , it makes sense to take other steps to keep your sleeping space as dust mite-free as possible.
Hire A Hauling Service
If you cant haul your own mattress out to a recycling center, you can hire a moving service to collect and dispose of it properly. This can be a convenient option if you dont have a way to transport your old mattress and its not in good enough condition to donate. The fee for this service can vary depending on your location, the size of the mattress, and the company you use. Some local hauling businesses include College Hunks Hauling Junk and Freds Junk Removal visit their websites for a quote.
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Bed Bugs And Other Pests
If your mattress has been infested by bed bugs or other pests, then you absolutely should not risk spreading the pests to others. Even recycling the mattress can potentially spread the pests, so proper disposal is vital here.
When disposing of infested items, its important to contain the infestation before attempting to move them. For smaller items like pillows, placing them in a plastic bag will work. Larger items like mattresses should be shrink-wrapped or tightly covered in tarp or painters plastic to contain the pests and prevent further spread.
Once moved outside, clearly label that the mattress is infested to deter anyone who may be tempted to rehome your item before waste disposal picks it up.
Assess The Quality Of Your Mattress
Your mattress may be relatively new, but it may not properly accommodate your sleeping style.
If your mattress is not necessarily out of life, it just is not the right one for you, it may be worth donating to someone else for whom it will be right.
Organizations like Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity will sometimes accept mattress donations if it is in relatively good quality, but be honest about the state of your mattress.
While it might sound easy to just drop off your old mattress, do not saddle a non-profit with your mattress if it will not serve someone in need, but also do not assume that just because the mattress is not working for you it can’t provide someone else with a good night’s sleep.
This is a great way to help reduce waste but more often than not, if a mattress is giving you persistent issues , the quality has probably degraded to a point where it is not salvageable.
Nothing lasts forever, think about how long you have had your mattress. Even a high end one may not last more than around 7 years. If it has been in the neighborhood of this long since you replaced your mattress, it has likely run its course. According to Mattress Insider Company founder Jonathan Prichard, keeping an old mattress around for too long can lead to a number of risks to hygiene and health.
If you’ve decided you need a new mattress, you’ll need to discover the best, most-economical way of disposing your old mattress.
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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.
How To Dispose Of Old Mattresses
We have all been there: climbing out of bed in the morning with a stiff neck, a sore back, and the distinct feeling that the previous night did nothing in the way of rest.
Many of us have been experiencing poor sleep for so long that it simply feels like second nature, being tired is a way of life for far too many people.
We will assess the reasons why you may be getting poor sleep, qualify if your mattress needs and upgrade and how to address mattress disposal.
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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.
How To Get Rid Of A Mattress
You might be surprised by how many different ways you can dispose of your mattress. There are at least 10 different options, but some of them are expensive, environmentally damaging and even illegal, so picking the best way to get rid of your mattress can be difficult.
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Based on a survey of 1,098 Which? members conducted in March 2021.
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