Where Do I Recycle My Mattress

Ways To Reuse Or Upcycle Your Old Mattress

Innovators and those who dabble in the arts see the demise of an old mattress as an opportunity. Why throw it out when you can slice and dice it and use its valuable materials for a project.

• Use the foam as the stuffing for homemade throw pillows, a dog bed, or an outdoor lounge cushion.
• Springs can be transformed into vintage candle or snack holders or to display family photos.
• The wood of a box spring can be cut and used in home projects or starter firewood.

• What are mattresses made of?

  Mattresses consist of a mix of materials, including cotton, foam, latex, polyester, steel coils, and more. Today, eco-conscious mattress manufacturers are using more planet-friendly fibers like organic cotton and wool.
• Does it cost money to recycle a mattress?

  Many recycling facilities and private haulers will charge a fee for mattress recycling . Fees generally range from $20 to $40.

Where Can I Take A Mattress For Recycling

Nowadays, even mattresses can be purchased online. While purchasing online can usually save you some money, keep in mind that the option of removal of your old mattress is no longer available. If you bought your mattress online or store pickup is not an option, then you will need to do a little more leg work. There may or may not be a mattress recycling center local to your area.

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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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

Resell It Or Give It Away

One option for getting rid of an old mattress is to try to resell it or give it away to somebody directly.

If your mattress is still in good condition, it could be used by somebody else. You can list it on sites like Craigslist or Freecycle.

Your mattress will need to be free of stains and infestations, and in a good structural state with no holes, tears, rips, or large indentations.

If it has only a slight sag, it may still be OK as there are ways to easily fix a sagging mattress.

Usually, the buyer will collect, which saves you the hassle of removing it yourself. You also either make a few bucks or help someone out.

If you choose to go this route, be sure to take some pictures of the mattress and include a description of its condition. Be honest about any wear and tear so that potential buyers are aware.

Do people really buy used mattresses?

Many people do buy used mattresses, as long as they’re in good condition. Used mattresses can be a great way to save money, and they’re often just as comfortable as new mattresses.

Just bear in mind that a buyer would want to inspect the mattress for any signs of wear and tear before they buy it.

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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.

How To Recycle Your Mattress

Currently, there are over 50 mattress recycling facilities in North America, and their numbers are growing all the time. Earth911.org maintains a directory of facilities, so you can see if there is one in your area. Simply search mattresses and your location. The International Sleep Products Association also hosts a list of mattress recycling facilities.

Some mattress recyclers only accept beds from retail or manufacturing partners, but many allow individuals to drop off beds or will pick them up for a small fee. Many cities also have annual mattress recycling days or community drop off locations.

If you are upgrading to a more comfortable mattress, you can also see if your retailer partners with any mattress recycling programs.

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Where To Buy Mattress Disposal Bags

Some of these junk removal services may require that you bag up your used mattress for sanitation purposes. Mattress disposal bags may also be required if your local waste management accepts mattresses. You will want to check to be sure to avoid a fee if you are utilizing the bulk pick up through your normal trash services. Mattress disposal bags are available at your local home improvement stores or wherever moving supplies are sold.

Are There Companies That Will Take My Mattress Away For Me

There are indeed! If youre just looking to get rid of your old mattress, there are many companies that offer to come and pick it up for a fee. However, make sure the one you choose recycles, instead of disposes of, the mattress.

Or, if youre looking to replace your mattress, many companies, such as Dreams, will provide an old mattress removal service when delivering your new mattress. This is exactly what I did with mine.

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Can You Recycle A Mattress

Yes. You can easily recycle a mattress, and it is time to try it. Around 16 million mattresses are discarded every year. The textile industry is one of the biggest sources of pollution globally, and landfills are quickly filling up with these discarded textiles.

An average mattress takes up about 40 cubic feet of space. Fortunately, around eighty percent of most mattress components can be recycled. Once you have decided that it is time to upgrade or replace your mattress, consider recycling it instead of disposing of it at your local landfill.

Is A Mattress Recyclable

Mattresses can be recycled.

While doing my research on how to get my old mattress recycled, I found some unfortunate statistics. Although mattresses can be recycled I discovered that across the world mattresses are still ending up in landfill. Here are just a few examples.

• Only 16% of mattresses are recycled in the UK
• More than 50,000 mattresses are discarded each day in the USA
• 1.25 million mattresses are sent to landfill in Australia every year

Mattresses are made from valuable materials and between 75% and 95% of these materials can be recycled.

The benefits of recycling your old mattresses are that you conserve resources and enable the reuse of resources that have already been extracted from the environment. It also reduces landfill.

Each mattress can take up to 0.75 cubic metres in landfill. What does that equate to? Based on the stats above that is almost a million cubic metres just for one year in Australia.

Recycling mattresses can also create jobs and helps support the circular economy. The recycled materials can be used to make many other products, refer below.

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Mattress Producer Responsibility Programs

Connecticut, Rhode Island, and California passed mattress producer responsibility laws establishing industry-run and financed statewide collection and recycling programsexternal link through the Mattress Recycling Councilexternal link , and Oregon is considering similar legislation. British Columbiaexternal link is planning to implement a province-wide mattress EPR program in 2025. In France, a manufacturer-run EPR program for the collection and recycling of all furniture and mattresses began in 2013: Eco-Mobilierexternal link and Valdeliaexternal link

Visit the Northwest Product Stewardship Council external linkexternal link to learn more about extended producer responsibility .

Check back regularly for updated news and resources on mattress recycling in King County.

About Canadian Mattress Recycling

Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc is Metro Vancouvers leading mattress recycling facility. We dispose of and recycle mattresses from residents in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Since we opened our doors eight years ago we have recycled over 25 million lbs. We make it easier for residents and commercial businesses alike to dispose of their old mattresses responsibly.

Locally-Owned and Operated

We are a 100% locally-owned and operated company based in Delta, BC. Our team of employees are dedicated to environmental preservation through recycling.

Award-Winning Service

Were consistently rated 4.8 stars on Google, and receive rave reviews from our past clients. We were also the recipients of the Green Business of the Year Award by the Delta Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

Hassle-Free Online Booking

Booking a pickup with us is hassle-free. Simply fill out our online form, and well contact you during our office hours to confirm your pickup. We serve Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

We Recycle Everything We Receive

We put old mattresses, box springs, and furniture back to work. We dismantle them at our recycling facility, recycling close to 100% of everything we receive. Salvaged steel, foam, plastic, cotton, polyester, coir, wood, leather, and cardboard become new products instead of landfill waste.

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How To Recycle 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 recycling your used mattress! Check out our directory of whats available in your state here.

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

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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Why Recycle Your Mattress

To name a few reasons, when you choose to recycle a mattress, you save the planet from pollution, you choose sustainability, and you are smart about your actions.

Another essential reason to recycle the mattress would be to reduce the carbon footprint. When you choose to recycle a mattress, you could contribute a little less to the 1600 pounds of trash.

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:

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How Do I Know If Im Ready For A New Mattress

First things first: how do you know its time to get a new mattress?

The general consensus is that mattresses should be replaced, on average, every 8 years.

However, some types of mattresses tend to last longer than others. For instance, hybrid innerspring-foam mattresses tend to need replacing sooner, at around 6 years, while plain innerspring mattresses can last up to 10 years . Meanwhile, memory foam and latex mattresses can last up to 15 years with the right care.

These figures are only the average lifespans of each type of mattress: some individual mattresses can last for less time than their mattress-type average, while some can last longer. The lifespan of a mattress can vary significantly, depending on factors like the design of the mattress, the materials its made of, how well you take care of it, and what sort of atmosphere it is exposed to in your bedroom.

The best and most accurate way to tell if your mattress needs to be replaced is how it feels, and what sort of rest you get when you sleep on it. Are you still getting the support and comfort from the mattress that you got from it in the past?

Once youve decided its time for a new mattress, have shopped around and picked out your new model, and are all set to bring it home, theres one final hurdle to face: what do you do with your old mattress?

Do Landfills Accept Mattresses

Landfills most definitely accept mattresses, but thats the last place you should send one. In fact, this has actually led to a mini crisis of sorts, where more mattresses wind up in landfills than recycling centers, something that needs to change.

Every year, Americans are believed to dispose of more than 20 million mattresses, with the vast majority winding up in landfills. This comes to an estimate of around 55,000 per day, and they contribute to 450 million pounds of waste every year. So, whilst your local or state landfill site will accept mattresses, you should be looking be looking to pile another one on.

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How To Recycle A Mattress In Connecticut

Here are your options for recycling 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.

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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