How to Dispose of a Mattress When It's Time for an Upgrade
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When you're ready to upgrade your mattress, the moment your new one arrives can't come soon enough. But unless you're simply moving your old sleep surface into a spare bedroom, you'll want to know how to dispose of a mattress, since things at home could get crowded quickly.
While your first instinct may be to haul your old mattress out to the curb, it's a good idea to try and find it a second life elsewhere. According to the Mattress Recycling Council, an estimated 20 million mattresses and box springs are discarded in the U.S. every year, which comes out to more than 50,000 thrown out each day. While many mattresses comprise materials that can be repurposed, these components go to waste when they're landfilled.
We asked waste management and mattress industry experts about how to dispose of a mattress in the most eco-friendly way. Read on to learn what you need to know.
How to Recycle a Mattress
Choosing to recycle a mattress is better than throwing it out, but this option may be dependent on your location. You can look up mattress recycling facilities near you on the Mattress Recycling Council’s Bye Bye Mattress website. But if this isn't possible with your old sleep surface, try to plan your new mattress purchase accordingly.
“We strongly recommend buying a new mattress from a reputable source that offers a takeback recycling program,” says Jason Loughlin, COO at Waste Trade. “This minimizes the carbon footprint of transporting the mattress while also going toward a new product and purpose.”
The mattress recycling process typically begins with tearing it apart and separating the different materials such as the wooden frame, metal coils, fabrics, and gel or foam. The divided materials are either sent to specialized facilities to be refined into raw materials and used to manufacture new products or are repurposed for materials like carpet padding, insulation, mulch, or alternative fuel sources.
How to Donate a Mattress
Another waste-free option for disposing of a mattress is donating it. If you can find an organization that will accept a used mattress, it can provide a valuable resource to someone in need. Just make sure that the mattress you're donating is in excellent condition and doesn't have stains, rips, sagging, or (most importantly) bugs.
“Donate with dignity,” says Amanda Wall, the director of marketing at the Mattress Recycling Council. “If a mattress is no longer good enough for you to use, it’s not good enough for anyone else.”
Some organizations that accept mattresses include the following:
In addition, you can try contacting local homeless shelters, furniture banks, and nonprofit thrift stores to ask if they might accept a used mattress donation.
“As a rule of thumb, anything above ‘very good’ condition will be accepted, and anything less will need to be disposed of, putting the burden of disposal costs on the charitable organization,” says Loughlin.
Be prepared to discuss the condition and potentially provide pictures of the mattress in question so that the organization can assess whether they want to accept it. Just know that, depending on the organization, you may also have to transport the mattress to the site. And though some donation centers and recyclers accept mattresses for free, others may have a nominal fee to cover processing costs.
How to Prepare a Mattress for Trash Pickup
If you've pursued all available options and aren't able to recycle or donate your old mattress, you should know how to properly prepare your mattress for trash pickup. Many municipalities offer pickup programs that collect large items like mattresses for removal on certain days or by appointment. Depending on your area's regulations, you may need to seal your mattress in a bag to avoid getting fined.
“Another mattress disposal option are local disposal sites such as dumps or transfer stations,” says Loughlin. The primary function of a transfer station is to serve as a central hub for consolidating waste from multiple collection routes or areas before it’s transported to a final destination. Keep in mind that fees typically apply, and some facilities may have restrictions on mattress disposal. Check with your local provider for more information.
Lastly, there are white-glove disposal companies that offer convenient mattress pickup from your home for a fee. If you go this route, ask the company to see if it's possible for them to bring your mattress to a recycling facility or if their only option is to dispose of it at a dump or transfer station.
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