Mattresses are just about the bulkiest item a consumer can recycle. On the plus side, you’re likely only disposing of one once every 10 to 20 years, but the size and weight means it won’t be an easy process. The good news is that mattresses contain several valuable materials like steel that increases the recycling market. However, most mattress recycling companies don’t want to deal with consumers disposing of one mattress, especially if you need it hauled away. This means your best bet is to find a hauler who will recycle it for you. Here are the four best options (in order of ease and cost) to accomplish this: Find a place near you to recycle your mattress with our Recycling Locator. Why should I recycle my mattress?Are thrift stores allowed to sell used mattresses?As mentioned above, all local affiliates are different as to what they accept. But assuming that your mattress is 10+ years old and covered in dead skin cells, don’t count on donation being an option.
St. Vincent de Paul has in California and Oregon that recycles 170,000 mattresses and box springs annually, so it’s possible your local store will accept and ship them for recycling.What types of recyclable materials are in mattresses? Are box springs recyclable?How do I dispose of air mattresses and waterbeds?What should I do with foam mattress pads, like a Tempur-Pedic mattress?Are there any state laws regarding mattress recycling?If you’ve ever tried it, you’ve likely discovered that mattress disposal is not an easy task. You can’t simply throw them in a dumpster or leave them on the curb to be picked up with your garbage. Perhaps that’s why many old mattresses unfortunately become abandoned eyesores in alleyways. But it doesn’t have to be that way.can take care of your mattress removal and help recycle it. We’ll do our best to donate it to charity whenever possible, or ensure that it’s disposed of responsibly. Instead of dealing with that cumbersome mattress yourself, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
and let our efficient team of professionals pick up your old bed and ensure it's disposed of properly. We can usually arrange for same day service which is convenient when you have new furniture that's being delivered or you've simply run out of space. Here's how our award winning service works: If you are a hospital, hotel, or nursing home just give us a call so we can discuss the number of mattresses that you need removed and arrange for a bulk pick up that best fits your busy schedule. If you have a mattress that's being removed due to a bed bug infestation, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? can take it with advanced notice. The mattress must be wrapped with the appropriate certification from a pest control company indicating that it has been treated/sprayed already. If your mattress has bed bugs and advanced notice was not provided, we have the right to decline it as we would never want to carry them into other people's homes and businesses. One might think their old bed can be left out with the trash, but a lot of municipalities and various states do not accept mattresses as part of their collection service and may even issue a fine.
Besides, throwing away mattresses only helps to fill up our landfills faster. The eco-friendly way to dispose of an old mattress is to have it recycled. On average, about 90% of a mattress can be recovered through recycling. The wood, foam, cotton, and metal springs inside the mattress are all considered recyclable materials. Once a box spring has been broken down, its steel cage, wood frame, and cotton outer layer can all be recycled too. Similarly, memory foam, Tempur-Pedic, and latex foam mattresses are also recyclable. In the event a mattress can't be recycled due to poor condition, rest assured it will be disposed of responsibly. has been in business since 1989. As the world's largest junk removal service, we guarantee fast and efficient service with transparent rates. Ready to dispose of that old mattress? Learn more about What We Do and the 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Along with electronics, mattresses are one of the most difficult consumer products to get rid of responsibly—which is why they frequently end up getting illegally dumped in alleyways or left on curbsides.
Landfills often charge extra fees to deal with mattresses, which are bulky, don’t compact well, and can cause toxic, flammable air pockets to form in dump sites. Recycling mattresses is also a complicated endeavor, as mattresses are typically composed of a combination of wood, steel, cotton, and polyurethane foam, of which only the steel elements are readily recyclable. So what’s the best way to get rid of a mattress you no longer need or want? Given that mattresses can be so difficult to dispose of effectively, you may want to factor durability into your purchasing decisions. Some mattresses come with warranties that range up to 20 years. With proper maintenance, it’s not impossible for mattresses to last for decades, which can go a long way toward reducing your household’s overall waste footprint. Need Help Moving a Mattress? Get an Up-front Price. Recycle Your MattressMattresses can be recycled. Many mattress stores will take your old mattress- ask where you buy.
Or, residents can find drop off or pick up service at Take it Back Network.Dispose of your old one at the curb using our Bulky Item Pickup (a fee is charged) or at the Transfer Station for the regular garbage rate.If you're playing the "Pyramid" game show, the answer would be, "Things you can't give away." Just ask Susan Meyer. The St. Anthony resident and college professor tried to unload her big, old 26-inch TV on her students, friends with cabins, and even her mom, whose console TV is fading. "I keep telling her I'll bring it down," Meyer said. "But she's not going for it. The guilt from being a throwaway society makes us think that everything deserves a second, third or fourth life. When an item doesn't sell on Craigslist or at a garage sale, it's offered to friends or relatives. If that doesn't work, people call a charity. And then they call another and another until giving up. When David Clark of Eden Prairie couldn't get rid of a 15-year-old treadmill at 2nd Wind Sports, Goodwill or the Disabled American Veterans, he asked me.
After a search, I found several charities that take them, as long as they're in working order. Besides exercise equipment, readers tweeted other examples of common household items that are difficult to get rid of. I found at least one solution for each of the top 10 most unwanted items. Some of the charities listed even pick up. Call for details and restrictions. St. Vincent de Paul thrift store (Mpls., 612-722-7882) accepts them now, but most charities such as Goodwill or Salvation Army won't start accepting them until October. Child Care Choices (St. Cloud, 1-800-288-8549, www.childcare choices.net), which provides services and support to child-care providers and families, accepts functioning computers up to four years old. St. Vincent de Paul (see above) accepts towers and laptops and will even wipe hard drives clean. Monitors are not accepted. Also check with churches and small schools. Very few charities accept these due to liability issues and numerous recalls.
Call United Way (211) for charities in your area. ) accepts car seats less than five years old and cribs less than 10 years old. Most entertainment centers purchased as ready-to-assemble units cannot usually be donated because they damage easily when moved. ), ) and Salvation Army (10 locations, 612-332-5855 for pickup) will take them if they're in good condition. Retailers such as 2nd Wind or Play It Again Sports want equipment that is less than a decade old, in good working order and a higher-end brand (units sold at discount stores are usually refused). ) and St. Vincent de Paul (see above). No one wants a mattress with stains or rips, but those in excellent condition might be accepted by Bibles for Missions (see above). To get rid of a mattress in poor condition, check with your garbage hauler, the county or the retailer when buying a new one. ) and Salvation Army (see above) accept working units. Many small charities listed at www.startribune/a443 occasionally accept office furniture.