Mattress disposal can be quite the challenge. Especially if you’re unaware of the options available to you for donating or destroying your mattress.
You might be thinking “I’ll just put it out on my driveway on trash pick up day.” But assuming your trash company even picks it up, it’s going to end up in the landfill which is not great for the environment.
In this guide, we’ll show you how you can dispose, reuse, or repurpose your mattress in an eco-friendly way.
Sadly, such unnecessary waste is devastating to the environment. We live in an age when so much is disposable, and sustainable living is more important than ever.
So….how to get rid of a mattress? That….is the question.
If your old mattress is in good condition, you would do better to donate or resell it.
If it is worn out, then recycling may be a better option.
The eco-friendly option for mattress disposal is recycling your old mattress.
Since there are so many mattress companies and options, mattresses are made of varying kinds of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, wool, various foams and fabrics, and even animal hair. (Drake, the artist, even has a $300,000 mattress made of horse hair.)
If you take these various mattress components apart, you can often recycle most or all of your mattress to build new products, sell to scrap, or simply add to your firewood pile.
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of taking your old mattress apart, there are recycling facilities that dispose of old mattresses properly.
They break the mattress down into its recyclable components and organize them by type.
If you are thinking to go the recycling route, here are some ways to find a recycling center near you:
Look for Bye Bye Mattresses. The organization collects a fee for every mattress that is sold, and uses the money to aid mattress recycling
If your mattress is still in good shape, there are people in need who can benefit from a second-hand mattress. If you want to do a good deed, your mattress donation can help.
Here are a few things to have in mind if you are donating.
First, make sure the mattress is in decent condition. You obviously can’t donate a mattress that has bedbugs. Also, the mattress should have a well-attached and clean cover (with minimal tears or rips and little to no stains).
Next, search for local branches of the following charity organizations: :
Check also: How to Clean A Mattress: The Ultimate Guide
If donation options don’t work in your area, you can sometimes give your old mattress away for free. It might surprise you how many people can utilize a second-hand mattress, if it’s in good shape.
There’s a chance to earn a small profit from your old-used mattress.
As long as it’s in decent shape, you may be able to resell it to someone on the lookout for cheaper furniture.
Some online platforms and giveaway apps that can come in handy:
To get the best possible price for your used bed, post accurate photos of the mattress and arm yourself with patience. It’s likely you will get questions from potential buyers.
In addition to some of the above online sales locations, there are offline options as well to sell locally.
Keep in mind though that selling used mattresses is illegal in some states. Check your state’s laws regarding selling old mattresses, in order to avoid trouble with the law.
What if no nearby organizations offer pick-up services, and dropping it off yourself is not an option?
Consider contacting a local mattress disposal service that sends trucks to transport your mattress to a charity, recycling location, a buyer’s address or etc. for a small fee. We’ve covered some of the options above, but services like 1-800-GOT-JUNK will come and pick up pretty much anything.
Some companies will offer the option that if you purchase a new bed from them, they will come and collect it several years down the road, when you’re ready for a new mattress. They do this in the hopes that your next mattress will also be purchased from them.
This can be an easy and convenient way to dispose of your old mattress, if you feel confident that the company you’re buying from will still be in business several years down the road.This service usually carries an additional fee at the time you buy your bed, but is sometimes free..
What’s more environmentally-conscious than repurposing?
Equip yourself with the right tools, some patience, and get started.
According to zero waste thinker Antonia, you can turn the mattress into a fun DIY project. It’s can be time-consuming, but if you’re willing to work at it, it can also be worth it. For example, an old bed frame can become new again in numerous ways.
One way to go about this is to tear up the used mattress with a razor blade knife. Beware of sharp parts. Use protective eyewear and gloves to keep yourself safe. If you want the maximum usage potential from the materials, do your best to find and cut along the seams where the fabric was initially sewn together.
Then, let creativity take its course:
There are countless ideas. Let your imagination go to work and see what you come up with. And when you come up with something fun, take pictures and video and share it with us and the world!.
A wine rack made from old bed spring coils and wood
A bed frame
made from old pallets
Use foam from an old mattress as padding when moving
The mattress itself won’t compost. However, if you’re looking for another option, you could choose to make a compost frame from the wood and natural parts of the filling of the mattress.
Use the wooden parts of your mattress to construct the compost container.
Use the padding and mattress cover as a cover for your compost pile. This can help to keep the warmth in the compost pile and stimulate the bacterial process that takes place in a compost pile.
And if it’s built well, you can reuse the same compost bin over several seasons.
Now that you know how to get rid of a mattress in a sustainable way, you are empowered with additional knowledge to help and protect the environment.
By remembering some of these ideas when you’re getting rid of your mattress, you can ensure your mattress stays out of the landfill.
By following these tips for responsible disposal, you can enjoy guilt-free sleep, and even get a longer term benefit from something that may have initially been an expensive purchase.
Want more?
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