New mattresses are always a good thing, especially if your old one had gotten way past time for replacing. But now you have to figure out what to do with that old mattress.
If you've purchased a new mattress recently you likely need a good mattress disposal solution. In many locales, taking it to the dump may not be an option. Recycling is a good strategy for many junk items, but recycling large items can be challenging.
And mattress recycling is one of them.
New Mattresses, Old Mattresses, and Getting Good Sleep
Everyone needs a good night's sleep. And far too many of us never get many of those. This is often due to either not having the right mattress, or having one that is long past it's prime. So, what many people do is to purchase a new mattress in hopes that it will improve their sleep quality.
A good mattress can help you sleep throughout the night, and several studies have shown that the better you sleep, the better you’ll function the following day.
According to Medical News Today,
“Sleep is a vital, often neglected, component of every person’s overall health and well-being. Sleep is important because it enables the body to repair and be fit and ready for another day. Getting adequate rest may also help prevent excess weight gain, heart disease, and increased illness duration.”
The same article noted that there were several studies done in the early 2000s that looked at the effects of sleep deprivation. What the researchers concluded is that sleep has links to several brain functions, including:
- concentration
- productivity
- cognition
The problem is that we tend to keep our mattresses far longer than we should, either because we aren't ready to go out and buy a new one, or we aren't sure when to replace our current ones.
When are you supposed to buy a new mattress?
The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress if it's over seven years old.
And an article at Good Housekeeping's website notes,
“Mattresses last five to 10 years as a general rule. However, you should decide when it's time to replace your mattress based off of other warning signs. Are you waking up sore? Is your mattress feeling lumpy? Do you sleep better on other mattresses, like at a hotel? These are all signs that it’s time to go shopping.”
Choosing Mattress Recycling for Your Mattress Removal
Most charities won’t take old mattresses, often for health and sanitary reasons. And disposing of an old mattress at the dump is not always easy nor even allowed in many places.
Just putting it out on the curb in front of your house and hoping that someone will take it away. And it is highly unlikely that your trash company will although you might be able to arrange for a special pick-up by your local waste disposal management company.
To help you through the process of your own mattress removal, we've put together this simple mattress removal checklist:
However, recycling your old mattress is a real and positive mattress disposal solution option.
Mattress Recycling: A Positive Removal Solution
How much of your old mattress can be recycled?
According to information from AmeriSleep:
Most materials in a mattress can be repurposed once a bed is deconstructed (about 85-90%), and enterprising entrepreneurs are constantly developing new ways to use old bedding.
- Springs & Coils: Metal can melted and made into new items.
- Foams: Mattress foams can be shredded and used in carpet padding , moving pads, and as a fuel source.
- Fibers: Cotton and other fibers can be used in filters, insulation or burned for fuel.
- Fabrics & Upholstery: Can be reclaimed for use in other items.
- Wood: Can be chipped for mulch or burned for fuel.
While there are no federal laws requiring mattress recycling, and almost no states require it, the Mattress Recycling Council has implemented a law in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island that allows retailers collect a disposal fee on all new mattress and box spring sales.
Information from Bye Bye Mattress, a program of the Mattress Recycling Council, assists consumers in recycling their old mattresses.
Junk King is Your Best Resource for Mattress Recycling
Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly mattress disposal service to make the whole process easy for you. Our experienced mattress removal team will have the manpower to haul off that mattress and bed frame without damaging any of your home on the way out.
We’ll do all the heavy lifting so there is no need for you to carry items out to the curb. And we’ll make sure that the mattress or bed is disposed of at a proper recycling facility so that it doesn’t do any harm to our ecosystem.
Ready to get rid of your old mattress?
It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3. You make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).
Our professional and insured mattress disposal team will show up at your home right away and call you 15 minutes before we arrive on site and we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your items take up in our truck. You point and we haul your items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.
