RECYCLING YOUR OLD MATTRESS

Posted on February 24, 2016

Recycle Your Old Mattress

It’s a new year which means out with the old, in with the new. I’ve at a few avid recyclers ask me what they should do when they trade in their old mattress for a new one. Are they recyclable and if so where can you recycle them? This is a great question. Since Metro is primarily a recycler of metals, we do not accept mattresses for recycling, but there has to be an organization or business that does right? With a little research, we have some answers for you!

There are two options when it comes to your mattress. Reuse or recycle. Let’s discuss the reuse option first.

If your mattress is in good condition, it may be easy to find a new owner for your mattress. Start by asking friends and family members if they’re in need of a new mattress or know of anyone looking for one. Another option would be to check with local churches, homeless shelters, and community centers within your neighborhood.

If you’re having trouble with those options, you may be able to give your mattress away on sites such as Craigslist or eBay. Check with the Salvation Army as well and they might even pick up the mattress to save you a trip.

If your mattress isn’t in the best shape it’s probably best to opt for the recycling option. The wood, foam, cotton and metal springs that make up most mattresses are all recyclable. The challenging part is finding a place to recycle it.

When you purchase a new mattress, check to see if the store provides recycling. The manufacturer of your old mattress may offer a take-back recycling program. A quick call or web search should be able to provide you with that information. If you have no luck there check out Earth 911’s recycling directory to find out which recycling centers near you offer mattress recycling programs.

It’s a new year, let's start off on the right foot by reducing the materials we use, reusing as much as we can and of course, recycling materials that can be recycled.