5 Tips for Mattress Disposal – Do Check This If You Are Still Using #3 Tip
How would you dispose of your old mattress and box springs?
Sink them in a lake?
Dump them by the roadside?
Maybe sell them at a flea market, or give them to a family member as a hand-me-down.
One reason mattresses are always at the bottom of our shopping lists is because buying them can be a harrowing experience.
Another reason is that we rarely know what to do with our old mattresses.
Not to worry, though.
I've got some ideas for mattress removal that may be of use to you.
Dump them by the roadside?
Maybe sell them at a flea market, or give them to a family member as a hand-me-down.
One reason mattresses are always at the bottom of our shopping lists is because buying them can be a harrowing experience.
Another reason is that we rarely know what to do with our old mattresses.
Not to worry, though.
I've got some ideas for mattress removal that may be of use to you.
Throw it away
A mattress can be left out with the trash in cities and states that allow it. But be sure to throw away your old mattress properly. For example, seal it in a plastic bag. Otherwise, you may receive a $100 fine. I would not recommend this method because it causes great burden to our environment.
You know what?
A single mattress takes up about 40m³ of space! And between 150,000 and 20 million mattresses are thrown away annually!It figures that burying all those mattresses is costly to the environment as well as a city's budget.It also wastes materials that could be reused.
You know what?
A single mattress takes up about 40m³ of space! And between 150,000 and 20 million mattresses are thrown away annually!It figures that burying all those mattresses is costly to the environment as well as a city's budget.It also wastes materials that could be reused.
Mattress Donation
If your mattress is still serviceable, you can donate it to local charities. Not only would you be helping those in need, the donation may be tax-deductible. Charities like Goodwill, The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul have second-hand stores where old mattresses are received. If these charities don't have a presence where you live, you can make your donation at the local church or hospice.
Looking for a free method for mattress removal?
Check this for the nearest charity from you.
Those local charities are places that can take your old mattresses for free!
Looking for a free method for mattress removal?
Check this for the nearest charity from you.
Those local charities are places that can take your old mattresses for free!
Sell it
If your mattress is relatively new, you can sell it on second-hand online stores, like e-bay and Craigslist.
You could also sell it to one of many mattress rebuilding companies who buy second-hand mattresses.
However, mattress rebuilding is a sketchy industry with an uncertain future. To reduce costs, some mattress rebuilding companies do a sub-par job of sterilizing and cleaning the mattresses.They may settle for only spraying insecticide, for example.In the case of mattresses that have bedbugs, using insecticide alone would only kill grown bugs, not their eggs.
You could also sell it to one of many mattress rebuilding companies who buy second-hand mattresses.
However, mattress rebuilding is a sketchy industry with an uncertain future. To reduce costs, some mattress rebuilding companies do a sub-par job of sterilizing and cleaning the mattresses.They may settle for only spraying insecticide, for example.In the case of mattresses that have bedbugs, using insecticide alone would only kill grown bugs, not their eggs.
The eggs would then be incorporated into rebuilt mattresses and eventually, they would hatch.True to form, the bedbugs would then hide in the mattress seams during the day and come out at night.They would proceed to suck the blood of the unlucky buyer of a rebuilt mattress. And after their meal, the bugs would hide so they could digest the blood, poop and lay eggs.
Gross.
In the pursuit of rock-bottom prices, some rebuilding companies have gotten nasty surprises from their cheaply bought mattresses. They've ended up selling batches of unhygienic mattresses to low-end hotels, shelters and school dorms.Mattress rebuilders do fill a need in low income neighborhoods.But there's no doubt that consumers are unaware of the risks of such mattresses.Sure, they know they're getting a lower quality product.What they don't know is that rebuilt mattresses could expose them to significant health risks.
Mattress Recycling
In the case of a worn out mattress, recycling is an environmentally friendly option. Almost 80% of the materials in an old mattresses can be recycled. The wood frame, steel springs, foam and outer fabric of a mattress can be reused.The springs can be recycled as scrap metal.The foam can be turned into carpet filler or insulation material. The fabric can be used to make filters in industrial machinery. Old bed recycling can offset an estimated 45% of greenhouse emissions produced by mattresses from production to landfill. However, ecycling requires lots of human labor, which is costly in terms of time and money. Here's why. Mattresses are put together very tightly to prevent them from falling apart easily. Which is awesome when a mattress is in use. Not so awesome when the mattress has to be taken apart for recycling purposes. To separate the materials, humans have to fillet the mattress by hand using a box cutter. To reduce labor costs, prison labor or subsidized developmentally disabled workers are employed.
My take is that:
Recycling old mattresses may not be the easiest option, but it is better than filling the planet with bulky mattresses.(View your nearby free mattress recycling organization here.)
Recycling old mattresses may not be the easiest option, but it is better than filling the planet with bulky mattresses.(View your nearby free mattress recycling organization here.)
DIY
For DIY enthusiasts with creative minds and big yards, a mattress can be modified and re-purposed into stuff that the kids will love.
A sterilized mattress can be the perfect protective layer for the bottom of a jungle gym.It can also be modified into a creative substitute for that trampoline or bouncing castle the kids have been begging for.
The mattress could also be useful in your garden.Both the wood frame and the stuffing in the mattress can be used to create a compost pile in your backyard.The wood slats of the frame can be used to make the actual bin for the compost.Finally, the foam padding or cotton stuffing can be used as a cover to protect the compost from the elements and to keep the pile warm in order to accelerate the composting process.Stuffing from the mattress can also be used as landscape fabric that covers the soil and prevents weeds from sprouting.Moreover, mattress springs can be used as supports for climbing plants.DIY projects require effort, but people that are into DIY are not allergic to effort.
A sterilized mattress can be the perfect protective layer for the bottom of a jungle gym.It can also be modified into a creative substitute for that trampoline or bouncing castle the kids have been begging for.
The mattress could also be useful in your garden.Both the wood frame and the stuffing in the mattress can be used to create a compost pile in your backyard.The wood slats of the frame can be used to make the actual bin for the compost.Finally, the foam padding or cotton stuffing can be used as a cover to protect the compost from the elements and to keep the pile warm in order to accelerate the composting process.Stuffing from the mattress can also be used as landscape fabric that covers the soil and prevents weeds from sprouting.Moreover, mattress springs can be used as supports for climbing plants.DIY projects require effort, but people that are into DIY are not allergic to effort.
Learn to let go
After years of use, old mattresses become lumpy and uneven. They no longer provide the comfort and support they are supposed to. It can lead to back pain and aches in other parts of the body. What's more, the accumulation of dead skin and sweat (and whatever else may be on there) can be a potential threat to your family's health. Generally speaking, if your mattress is around 8 years old, it's time to dispose of it and buy a new one.
After years of use, old mattresses become lumpy and uneven. They no longer provide the comfort and support they are supposed to. It can lead to back pain and aches in other parts of the body. What's more, the accumulation of dead skin and sweat (and whatever else may be on there) can be a potential threat to your family's health. Generally speaking, if your mattress is around 8 years old, it's time to dispose of it and buy a new one.
