Decorating Guides
Lose It: How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Updating your bedroom? Here's how to donate, reuse or recycle that mattress — and keep it out of the landfill
If you live in a pretty big city, odds are you come across old mattresses on the sidewalk almost daily. It’s one of those things that’s impossible to dispose of easily, and often the easiest choice is to leave it on the sidewalk or toss it into a dumpster. The problem is that almost all of these mattresses end up in landfills, where they take up a lot of space, create flammable air pockets, and damage compression equipment. On average, 300 mattresses and box springs arrive at a single landfill in one day. Take a look at these tips to see how you can avoid sending your used mattress straight to the landfill.
But first, make sure you actually need to get rid of your mattress. Often a good memory foam mattress pad or a different support platform can make all the difference — not just saving the environment, but also saving your money.
But first, make sure you actually need to get rid of your mattress. Often a good memory foam mattress pad or a different support platform can make all the difference — not just saving the environment, but also saving your money.
Repurpose: Believe it or not, most of the materials in your mattress can be reused with just a little effort. A mattress has a lot of different components, which is part of why a mattress can’t just be dropped off at your average recycling facility. But, it also means that there are a lot of bits and pieces that can be reused.
- Buttons: If taken off carefully and without damage, buttons can be reused for any sewing project.
- Braiding: Any braiding around the edges of the mattress can be removed if the thread is cut off with care. If it’s an attractive piece (which, surprisingly, many of them are) it can be reused in numerous sewing and home decor projects.
- Foam padding: The foam padding before the springs is durable but soft, making it perfect for stuffing pillows, filling cushions, using for shipping materials, or even reusing for small insulation projects.
- Mattress padding: As long as it’s not too damaged, the actual padding at the top of the mattress can be cut, washed, and re-sewn for pet beds, kneeling pads in the garden, or small scrubbing pads.
- Springs: Because it’s so durable, springs can be used in a number of outdoor settings. They’ve been used for trellises, make-shift fencing, support in the garden, or the basis for outdoor art projects.
- Fabric: If you have a queen or king mattress, you can usually remove the fabric in one piece, and use it as a drop cloth for painting or other messy projects. Smaller pieces can be washed and used for cleaning rags, or sewn into sacks for groceries or other goods.
- Wood frames: Get creative and make something! Or donate the scrap pieces to handymen or friends who enjoy crafts and woodworking.
Recycle: When broken down properly, about 85 percent of a mattress can be recycled. At this point in time, mattress recycling is unfortunately not as easy as it should be. It takes quite a bit of time and effort to fully process and recycle the parts of a mattress, so only certain facilities will recycle them. Try going to Earth911.com to look up a mattress recycling center near you. If you’re purchasing a new mattress, another option is to ask the store if they’ll take the mattress off your hands. Of course, there’s no guarantee as to what will happen to it, even if they promise that they recycle them.
Mattress recycling facilities use each part of the mattress for different purposes. Cotton and cloth are usually used for clothing and fabric. Wood is typically sold to wood chippers or burnt for fuel. Foam padding (the average queen mattress has several pounds of foam in it) is recycled into carpet padding. Springs are usually melted down at a scrap metal facility.
Mattress recycling facilities use each part of the mattress for different purposes. Cotton and cloth are usually used for clothing and fabric. Wood is typically sold to wood chippers or burnt for fuel. Foam padding (the average queen mattress has several pounds of foam in it) is recycled into carpet padding. Springs are usually melted down at a scrap metal facility.
If these options aren’t quite working for you — for whatever reason — try visiting EcoHaul.com. For a price, they’ll come and pick up your mattress (or any other junk for that matter), and promise to divert as much material as possible from landfills.
Find a local junk removal company to take your mattress
Of course, the ideal way to prevent your mattress from going into a landfill is to extend its life as much as possible. Take care of your mattress! Most retailers suggest that you flip and rotate your mattress every few weeks for the first six months you own it, and then every few months after that. Don’t jump on your mattress, bend it, and try to avoid getting it wet.
More: Lose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet
Quick Fix: Multipurpose Painter’s Tape
Find a local junk removal company to take your mattress
Of course, the ideal way to prevent your mattress from going into a landfill is to extend its life as much as possible. Take care of your mattress! Most retailers suggest that you flip and rotate your mattress every few weeks for the first six months you own it, and then every few months after that. Don’t jump on your mattress, bend it, and try to avoid getting it wet.
More: Lose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet
Quick Fix: Multipurpose Painter’s Tape
Junk hauling companies often have mattress recycling options as well