Mattress Recycling is Easier Than You Think

According to the Mattress Recycling Council, over 50,000 mattresses wind up in landfills across the United States every single day. That’s a shame because the council claims that more than 80 percent of the components that make up a given mattress can be recycled.

Mattresses that end up in landfills take up a lot of space. The coils in innerspring mattresses can get caught up in the equipment that’s used to compact and move waste in landfills. Even worse, discarded mattresses can become breeding grounds for vermin, bacteria, and bugs, which can pose a threat to the public’s health.

When it comes to getting rid of your mattress, you don’t have to settle for your mattress ending up in a landfill and becoming a public health risk. As it is with other forms of recycling, mattress recycling is based on three simple principles related to caring for the environment, which are:

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle

Recyclable Mattress Components

As we stated earlier, many of a mattress’ pieces are highly recyclable. Here are some of the recyclable components commonly found in innerspring mattresses and box springs:

• Metal springs
• Foam
• Natural and synthetic fibers and fabric
• Wood

How can these materials be reused or repurposed? The wood can be ground into mulch or burned to generate heat. The foams, fabrics, and fibers can be used to make pet beds or seat cushions. The metal from the coils can be melted down and used to make something else. Interested in knowing more about what’s inside a mattress,? We’ve got you covered. 

Recycling Alternatives

While you may be eager to recycle your mattress, there may not be a recycling center near you. If you don’t live close to a recycling center, you can still do things to prevent your mattress from ending up in a landfill. If your mattress is in good condition, you can try to sell your mattress, for example. Alternatively, you may put your mattress is another bedroom if you have the space.

If neither of those options appeals to you, you have a third choice. And that’s to donate your mattress to a charity or someone in need. Here are some of the non-profit organizations that accept donated mattresses:

• Goodwill
• The Salvation Army
• Habitat for Humanity
• Furniture Banks

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to donate a used mattress to an area homeless shelter or a domestic violence shelter. You may want to contact a local church to see if any of its members need a mattress as well.

Where to Recycle a Mattress in Atlanta

If you live in or near Atlanta, GA, you have several options to recycle your mattress. The Atlanta Department of Public Works will pick up discarded mattresses once per month based on your usual weekly schedule. You can also contact Stand Up Guys to pick up your mattress. Based in Marietta, GA, Stand Up Guys offers round-the-clock customer service, which makes scheduling a pickup easy no matter when you contact the organization.

Replacing Your Mattress

While we can’t help you recycle your mattress beyond offering the advice just provided, we can help you replace your recycled mattress. Visit one of our Atlanta-area Ben’s retail locations to buy a new mattress today.