Back to U.S. Website, APO/FPO FurnitureExtra 15% offSelect Furniture by Christopher Knight*RugsUp to 70% offSelect Area Rugs by Safavieh*DécorUp to 50% offSelect Curtains by Exclusive Fabrics*Bed & BathSave onSelect Bedding & Bath by Laura Ashley & MoreHome ImprovementExtra 15% offHome Improvement*KitchenShop AppliancesOutdoorUp to 50% offSelect Outdoor Furniture by Portfolio*JewelryUp to 50% offSelect Auriya Jewelry*WatchesUp to 50% off Featured Branded Watches*Shop WatchesWomenUp to Extra 15% offClothing, Shoes & Accessories*MenUp to Extra 15% offClothing, Shoes & Accessories*Kids & BabyExtra 10% offKids Furniture*MoreExtra 10% offPet Supplies* How to Recycle a Memory Foam Mattress Toppers Once your memory foam mattress pad stops providing springy support for your mattress, it's time to let it go. In fact, switching out your memory foam mattress topper every 10 years is recommended to ensure that you're getting the support you want while you sleep. Rather than throwing your old memory foam bedding away, try repurposing it with a few helpful tips.
Keep reading to learn how to recycle a memory foam mattress pad in an eco-friendly way. Recycling Memory Foam Pads: Shop Memory Foam Mattress Pads ▸ Determine if your topper has life left in it.When a memory foam mattress pad begins to wear out, it will show signs of wear on the top layer, where the cellular structure has begun to crumble. If your memory foam topper has indentations that do not dissipate within an hour, it's time to get a new topper that can give you the supportive sleep you want. Find a recycling center.Tossing your memory foam topper out can be harmful to the environment, so try looking for a recycling center that can recycle your mattress pad rather than sending it to a landfill. The foam used in memory foam and latex foam is completely recyclable, so you'll reduce your carbon footprint by taking the mattress pad to one of these facilities. Manufacturers often accept old memory foam bedding, so if that's more convenient, you may want to consider dropping it off there.
Convert it into something useable.Just because your memory foam mattress topper has reached the end of its life span in your bedroom doesn't mean it needs to be thrown out quite yet. There are several ways to turn your old foam pad into something useful that won't require removing it from your house. Memory foam works great for stuffing pet beds, and larger memory foam pads can be folded in half to create a padded place for guests. If you have accent pillows that are also beginning to show wear, cut out a square piece of memory foam and line the old pillow insert with it. This will breathe new life into pillows without any cost to you.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?Because one old mattress can occupy 40 cubic feet or more in a landfill, mattresses are an obvious candidate for recycling.
And although 80 percent of the components can be recycled, not everyone makes the effort. That’s one reason Rhode Island has become the third state to require that mattresses be recycled joining California and Connecticut. And at least 20 other states have mattress recycling facilities. Rhode Island launches its approved recycling plan on May 1. It’s operated by Bye Bye Mattress, which was established by the Mattress Recycling Council. In the three states where recycling is mandatory, mattress retailers are adding a $10 recycling fee to the price of every mattress sold. At least 20 million mattresses and box springs are discarded each year. In addition to being better for the environment, recycling an old mattress makes good business sense. There are plenty of materials to glean from a dismantled mattress, a process that’s typically done by hand. Steel from the springs can be melted down and used in many products. Foam is often processed into carpet padding. Wood from box springs can be made into wood chips for mulch.
And fiber is reprocessed for a number of uses, such as filters for industrial equipment. Even if you don’t live in a state that requires mattress recycling, check the Bye Bye Mattress database to find the recycling center closest to you. That’s for when you get rid of an mattress, but you certainly don't want to unknowingly buy one. Be aware that some smaller, lesser-known stores could be selling used mattresses. To avoid ending up with someone else's old mattress, always look for the label “All New Material” on the tag. And if a mattress is delivered to you without that tag, don’t accept it. Among top picks from Consumer Reports' Ratings of dozens of mattresses are the innerspring Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Elite Kelburn, $1,350, which had impressive support for side sleepers, and the bargain-priced Denver Mattress Doctor's Choice, $500, which had fine back support as well. For a foam bed, both side and back sleepers should appreciate the Novaform 14" Serafina Pearl Gel, $800 at Costco.