Disposing of Your Mattress
Wrap the mattress in plastic. Go to a department store, a home improvement store, or a moving supply store to get a mattress disposal bag or a mattress storage bag. Your local waste management authority likely requires that mattresses be disposed of this way for sanitation reasons. To avoid being fined, put your mattress in one of these bags and seal it closed with packing tape before you throw it away.
Set the mattress out on heavy trash day. Once your mattress is wrapped in plastic, it’s ready to be placed by your trash can on the curb. Wait to set out your mattress until it’s the morning of your monthly “heavy trash day,” when large trash items are accepted. If you aren’t sure what day this is in your area, check your local waste management website to find out. Don’t do this with multiple bulk items at a time, or else you may be fined. To be safe, only set your one mattress out next to your trash, instead of multiple mattresses or multiple pieces of furniture.
Hire a disposal company if you have a lot of trash. If you’re throwing away multiple bulk items, consider hiring someone to come pick it all up for you. This can be a bit pricey, but may be worth the money if you have many large things to get rid of. Search online for local general trash removal companies and local companies that specifically dispose of mattresses. Request quotes from these companies and go with the most affordable option.
Selling, Donating, and Recycling Your Mattress
Try selling your mattress online. Even if you think your mattress is old and no one will want it, others may think otherwise. List your mattress for a reasonable price on websites and/or apps like Craigslist, eBay, and Letgo and see if anyone shows interest in purchasing it. To improve your chances of attracting potential buyers, provide quality photos of the mattress and an include an accurate item description.
Donate your mattress to a charity. Check with nonprofit organizations in your area to see if they can accept your mattress as a donation. Some of these organizations, like Salvation Army and Goodwill, may not be able to accept your mattress. However, it’s a good idea to check with Habitat for Humanity, local churches, homeless shelters, and thrift stores to see if they can.
Return your mattress to the retailer you got it from. Mattress disposal has become quite an issue, so many retailers and manufacturers often take on the task of disposing of them for customers. If you’re purchasing a new mattress, ask the retailer if they’d be willing to take your old one and dispose of it properly.
Recycle your mattress. If you have access to a vehicle that can transport a mattress, roll it up, tie it down, and transport it to a local recycling center. You can drop your mattress off for free and they’ll break it down for you. If this sounds like too much of an inconvenience, you can also hire a mattress recycling service to come pick the mattress up from your home, break it down, and recycle the parts for as low as $50-100. Go to earth911.com or byebyemattress.com to find a recycling center near you. EXPERT TIP "Many recycling centers offer mattress recycling. They'll disassemble the mattress, remove the springs, and upcycle as much as possible." Kathryn Kellogg Kathryn Kellogg Sustainability Specialist Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. She's the author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic. Kathryn Kellogg Kathryn KelloggSustainability Specialist
Breaking Down Your Mattress
Cut and pull off your mattress’ binding cord. If you have a few tools and a decent amount of space, you may be able to take matters into your own hands and break down your mattress by yourself. Use a seam ripper or a utility knife to rip the thread on the side of your mattress where the piping stops. Grab ahold of the cord and pull it away from the mattress all the way around.
Pull off the sides of the mattress. Grab the fabric covering the sides of the mattress. With the cord removed, it should be relatively easy to pull off all of the material on the sides that’s covering the inside of the mattress.
Pull off the rest of the fabric and the fluffy foam. Once the sides are removed, rip off all other fabric that’s on the outside of the mattress. Then, pull out all of the fluffy foam material that’s packed into the inside of the mattress and stuff it into trash bags. This can be taken to a recycling facility or thrown into your trash can.
Cut and recycle the metal springs. After pulling out all of the filler material, you should only have metal springs remaining. Cut the springs into smaller pieces using wire cutters or bolt cutters. If you’re crafty, you can keep these metal pieces and make wine racks, pot holders, and more. If not, consider taking the pieces to a metal recycling center or a scrap yard. Scrap metal is valuable, so putting it in a landfill isn't a good idea.
Break down your box spring if you’re also getting rid of it. Start off by using a screwdriver to remove the plastic pieces that are stapled to the corners. Cut and tear away the dust cover to expose the wooden frame underneath. Use pliers to pull off the staples that are securing the fabric to the frame. Then, pull out all of the foam and cotton on the inside and pull off all remaining fabric. Use a handsaw or a handheld buzz saw to cut the wooden frame into smaller pieces. Throw the wooden pieces into your compost pile or use them as firewood. You can also throw them away.
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