Can I Recycle My Old Mattress?

Do you throw mattresses in a local
dump? Recycling is an eco-friendly way to dispose of old mattresses.

Each year, millions of mattresses
are disposed of in landfills where they absorb harmful chemicals and create
flammable air pockets. Some mattresses are made of bulky non-biodegradable
materials that may harm the environment. To reduce this pollution, you can
recycle, sell, and donate your old mattress and dispose of a mattress
responsibly. Recycling is the process of changing used items into new objects.
This process is the ideal way to discard old mattresses because it reduces
man’s carbon footprint.

Why Mattress Recycling Is Good for
The Environment

Synthetic foam mattresses emit
greenhouse gases that pollute the environment as they slowly rot. Recycling old
mattresses reduce these emissions significantly. At least 80% of mattresses in
the market are recyclable and a manufacturer repurposes them into
environmentally friendly products. Lastly, recycling creates jobs for people
who work along its chain.

How Mattress Recycling Works

A recycling plant inspects an old
mattress to check if it’s reusable. Mattress conditions like bedbug infestations are not ideal for this process. The recycler deconstructs an old
mattress into springs, foams, upholstery, fibres, and wood. Manufacturers
repurpose these materials into the following items.

• Box springs and coils can make new steel. Recyclers sell them as scrap metal for steel mills, building sites, and workshops.
• Foams can make paddings for seats, pillows, cushions, and other textiles.
• Fibres or upholstery can make industrial filters, cushions, and pillow covers.
• Wood can make mulch, biomass, fuel, and animal bedding.

There are over 50 mattress
recycling facilities in the States that you can contact. California, Rhode
Island, and Connecticut have a recycling program called Bye Bye Mattress. The
Mattress Recycling Council also offers guidelines on how to recycle a mattress.
Lastly, Earth 911 is an excellent online tool that helps you to search for
recycling centres near you. 

Most mattress recyclers charge $20
to $40 per recycled mattress. Their centres offer pickup services that collect
your old mattress at a small fee conveniently. Recyclers charge you for this
process because dismantling and recycling mattresses is a tedious process.
Mattress retailers also have recycling programs that offer a mattress disposal
service. Your retailer can connect you to an ideal recycling centre or your
mattress manufacturer. 

If you want to dispose of your
mattress for free, contact non-profit organizations such as Salvation Army,
Goodwill, and St. Vincent De Paul, which operate mattress recycling collection centres.
You can donate your old mattress if it doesn’t have visible tears, odours, and
stains. The mattress should also have working springs that do not sag
excessively. You can donate old mattresses to charities and home shelters.

You can also get crafty with your
old mattress. Platforms like Pinterest have ideas on how to repurpose your old
mattress. Some people use old memory foam mattresses to make pet beds and
others make cut-outs as cushions. Mattress coils or springs make beautiful interior design decor, paperweights, candleholders, etc.

Signs It Is Time for A New
Mattress

According to The National Sleep
Foundation, you should replace your mattress after 6 to 8 years. Some people
stretch this lifespan to 10 years if their mattress is in good condition. An
old mattress is damaged or lumped and squeaks louder than usual. Replace your
mattress if you wake up feeling tired, groggy, stiff, sore, and your allergies
flare up. You can buy a new mattress by looking through Slumber Search to find the best brand.

Notably, recycling an old mattress
doesn’t get rid of all its waste. You should consider getting a high-density
mattress made of natural and non-toxic materials which last longer and are
eco-friendly. If you can’t recycle, donate, or sell your old mattress, use a
mattress disposal bag and leave it to a junk removal service. Dumping any waste
is illegal and punishable by law. Lastly, burning an old mattress isn’t
recommended because the flames release toxins that harm the environment.

Conclusion

Mattress recycling protects the environment. Manufacturers repurpose old mattresses into reusable items like scrap steel parts. You can contact your mattress retailer or a recycling center to dispose of your old mattress in an eco-friendly way.