Mattress Recycling 🛏️ – How To Dispose Of Your Mattress Properly

October 27, 2021 Alterna Recycling, Waste Management

Energy Disrupter

Mattress Recycling 🛏️: What do we usually consider at night in order to get a good night’s rest?

If you ask me, it’s hot milk and a comfortable mattress on my bed! But what if I find a new, more comfortable mattress in the store? What do I do with my old one?

Recycling is a good option to do. But what options do we have in making sure that our old, worn-out mattresses are disposed of, or at least reused properly?

In this blog, we explore some recycling and other options you can do to deal with your old mattress. As you may all know, there are a number of enterprises you can access. We will make sure that you have an idea how to reach them if you di not, prior to reading this blog, of course. Let me further discuss it with you.

>Download Now: Free PDF Business Owners Guide To Commingled Recycling Bin Services

A bit about Waster

Before I get into further details about mattress recycling, let me first discuss with you Waster.

Waster is a company that provides small and medium Australian businesses high-quality and innovative waste management and recycling needs. But wait, there’s more to that! Waster also offers flexible, 30-day contracts that prove to be a better move for businesses to take.

Check our blog on rubbish removal services and see just how well we know what we are talking about.

Click on the blue button to learn more.

Read more: See blog on car seat recycling.

Now, let us continue on with the main topic on mattress recycling.

Mattress recycling: everything you need to know

In order to achieve a sustainable environment, we must make sure of the following:

Recycle whenever you can.
Dispose of materials in the correct bin.
As much as possible, avoid sending recyclable materials in a landfill.
Research what can and can’t be recycled.

I can think of a lot more, but those are one of the main keys to ensuring a sustainable environment. What about big, bulky materials, though?

Let’s say for example… car seats, fridges or mattresses? Let me focus more on the mattress part. A mattress is measured by its standard mattress size. Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Cal King, and King-sized are the common terms for mattress size, with Twin-sized being the smallest at 38″ x 75″ and King-sized being the largest at 76″ x 80″.

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According to Planet Ark, disposed of mattresses in a landfill usually take up 0.75 cubic metres of space. Additionally, 1.25 million mattresses are sent to landfill in Australia each year.

We need to avoid that by disposing of mattresses properly. How can we dispose of it properly? Let me tell you how by showing you a variety of options (inspired by Nectar)!

1st option: check to see if mattress recycling is possible

The first option to check is to see if your mattress is possibly viable for recycling.

Usually, it is. Just contact your local council to see if they can pick it up for you. They might give you a drop-off location, so make sure to take note of that before turning it over to them.

Now, how do recycling facilities process mattresses? Here’s how:

Recycling facilities first cut down the mattress and separate the layers. They get whatever recyclable materials there is in it like metals, wood, foam, and spring.
They then organise the recovered materials by type.
The recovered metal is then sent to recyclers. The springs are used to make new appliances and building materials. Additionally, the wood is chopped down and turned into mulch.

2nd option: warranty for the mattress

What option can you do if mattress recycling is unavailable?

Instead of disposing of your mattress in the trash, which later goes into landfill, why not try to use its issued warranty? This is a better alternative than disposing of your mattress. Let me use IKEA as an example.

They offer a 25-year guarantee to your mattress. Additionally, they either offer to repair your mattress if possible or replace it with a new one. You return your mattress to IKEA if unfixable.

3rd option: do your own mattress recycling or give it to someone else!

One more option you can do is to do the mattress recycling process yourself! Donate it to someone in need. Take for example Bedcollect. They are an Australian-based business that collects donated mattresses. They collect and recycle them to give to those in need. Their process involves “Collect, Recycle, and Reuse”, stating that 80 per cent of the mattresses’ components are collected. Additionally, they provided more than 10,000 beds to those in need.

Let me give you some tips before donating your mattress for later recycling. First, make sure it is still in good condition. Second, clean and disinfect it before giving it. The charity that you donate to deserves the right to accept it if proven unfit or dirty.

4th option:mattress upcycling

Aside from mattress recycling, you can also opt to upcycle it. Find other ways to repurpose your mattress. Maximise your creativity! Use your old mattress as a canvas for an art project. Search the internet for ideas. Make a conscious effort to remove the possibility of your old mattress going in a landfill.

5th option: sell it

One more thing you could do is to sell your mattress. Win-win situation, if you ask me. You get to get rid of your mattress while the other party gets a new mattress to use. Put it up for sale on online selling sites like eBay or Craiglist. Another thing you can do to ensure someone gets it off from your hands is to give it away for free, posting it on those sites.

Mattress recycling: example recyclers in Australia

In Australia, there are now a number of recyclers capable of handling mattresses. In this section of the blog, we cover the services they offer and more.

Soft Landing

“Let us collect and recycle your old mattress.”

The first on our recommended list of Australia’s mattress recyclers is Soft Landing.

Obviously, SoftLanding is focused on collecting and recycling older mattresses. From the mattresses, their methods involve extracting timber bases and distribute them to industry for mulch. steel spring to scrap metal recyclers and foam to carpet manufacturers for underlay.

Through a mattress recycling process, materials from waste mattresses such as foam, timber and metal, are diverted from landfill and re-used, contributing to a greener Australia. Soft Landing also provide employment pathways and training to people in the community who experience barriers entering the open labour market.

Why should you choose them?

Two main reasons: they are a social enterprise with about 65 per cent of revenue going to wages. That is a good amount going to those who really need. In addition, they greatly advocate for greater job opportunities for everyone. This is especially important, considering that we are currently facing a pandemic at the moment.

Snooze mattress recycling

“At Snooze, we understand the importance of sustainability and leaving a positive impact on our community”.

Besides Soft Landing, we also present to you another one of Australia’s mattress recyclers that we recommend: Snooze. But in truth, the two mentioned currently collaborates in dealing with mattresses.

They have partnered with Soft Landing, which you can read more below:

We’ve partnered with Soft Landing, a social enterprise who offer mattress recycling services in Australia. Soft landing are focused on community well-being and protection of the environment through job creation and diversion of waste materials from landfill, recovering the components to recycle. Soft Landing offer collection & pickup in NSW, WA, ACT and Victoria. New services areas rolling out soon.

Recycle My Mattress

“Recycle your old mattress and make a difference”.

Last on our list of Australia’s mattress recyclers is Recycle My Mattress.

They can take your old mattress away for free whilst you buy from a participating retailer. In addition, you can book a collection even if you do not intend to purchase a new mattress and just want to get rid of an old mattress.

Here, we state how the process works:

Find a retailer. Before purchasing your mattress, find a retailer that is a member of Recycle My Mattress.
Book a collection. When purchasing your new mattress, book a collection of your old mattress with your retailer.
You’re done! Your new mattress is delivered, and/or your old one is taken away – simple as that!

Mattress recycling: conclusion

Look at all the possible ways on how to divert your mattress from landfill. There are many options to choose from. Or in other words, there are a number of options in Australia you could choose from to take your mattress for recycling.

In order to truly achieve a sustainable environment, it must first start within ourselves. As a result, you should familiarise yourself with organisations and businesses that aim to recycle waste and divert it from landfill and collaborate with them.

Read more: See blog on Queensland waste levy.

Avail waste management provider’s services, partner up with Waster!

You can work with a waste management company (like Waster). Waster, in particular, will arrange you with waste management services to streamline and handle the waste generated. We provide many services ranging from the general waste bin and commingled recycling up to the recycling of particular items like food waste/organic (best way on how to reduce food waste in a number of industries) and paper and cardboard recycling.

Additionally, we will always advise you to recycle, as this is a guaranteed way of saving costs. Any type of business in Australia will never have to worry about their waste management practices. We will handle it for them! Check out our YouTube channel and find videos that can help with your waste management and recycling.

Why we think you should pick Waster

All across Australia, you can find all sorts of waste management and recycling services providers. “How can I ensure that Waster, the waste management company with good reviews, will fulfil their services with efficiency?” Well, you will have to book and find out about our services!

Why should you pick Waster? Here are some reasons:

You pay exactly what you asked for – and not a dollar more! For your waste management and recycling needs for your waste, avail of our flexible, 30-day contracts instead of those long, unproductive, and hidden fee-containing lock-in contracts.
Designed for small and medium businesses – we help you reduce cost while boosting recycling. That’s a win-win situation!
On-time and reliable – we provide fully accredited logistics and facility operators. By saying so, we ensure the safety and efficiency of our services.

Waster enables many Australian businesses to access the cheapest bin collection, removal and disposal prices there are in the Australian garbage market. A statement from our very own states that it “requires no lock-in contracts, no unjustified rate increases and no hidden costs“ and operates in all metro regions throughout Australia.

Waster: advocates of a sustainable environment

Check out our waste recycling shop to review and avail our pricing and services.

Call 1300 WASTER (1300 927 837) or enquire at [email protected] for more information.

Read more: See blog on old Christmas tree recycling.

Click on the blue button positioned around the start of this blog to learn more.