Each year, more than 18.2 million mattresses get thrown away in the US alone. More than 50,000 of them, unfortunately, reach landfills on a daily basis, polluting the soil and atmosphere. If you are interested in learning how to cut down your own carbon footprint when disposing of an old mattress you no longer need, check out our tips for disposing of a mattress.
When Is the Best Time to Dispose of Your Mattress?
Usually, mattresses should be replaced once every ten years on average. However, the exact replacement will vary from one mattress to another, and it will ultimately depend on a series of factors, including the mattress type, its condition, the type of care and maintenance that have been given to it, the periodical use of professional mattress cleaning services, or the frequency of use.
If you are wondering how to dispose of a mattress the right way, you should first know that leaving it on the curb might sound like the easiest solution, but this is not necessarily true. Taking it to the city dump might also end up being more complicated than you might imagine. Plus, improperly disposing of a bed could also leave behind a number of problems, not to mention the landfill pollution factor. For these reasons alone, it is mandatory to do proper research before getting started. Here are a few pointers you could use:
Check the Warranty on Your Mattress
Before you are ready to jump straight into the action and try to dispose of your mattress, check the warranty. It will let you know what is the time frame during which the manufacturer will replace your mattress provided it will suffer any damage. On average, the warranty is anywhere between five and ten years. Find out if the warranty also covers the actual removal of the mattress and its replacement. If removal is not part of the terms of the warranty, you will need to personally dispose of it.
Familiarize Yourself With the State Mattress Disposal Policies
Each year, more than 18.2 million mattresses get thrown away in the US alone. More than 50,000 of them, unfortunately, reach landfills on a daily basis, polluting the soil and atmosphere. If you are interested in learning how to cut down your own carbon footprint when disposing of an old mattress you no longer need, check out our tips for disposing of a mattress.
When Is the Best Time to Dispose of Your Mattress?
Usually, mattresses should be replaced once every ten years on average. However, the exact replacement will vary from one mattress to another, and it will ultimately depend on a series of factors, including the mattress type, its condition, the type of care and maintenance that have been given to it, the periodical use of professional mattress cleaning services, or the frequency of use.
If you are wondering how to dispose of a mattress the right way, you should first know that leaving it on the curb might sound like the easiest solution, but this is not necessarily true. Taking it to the city dump might also end up being more complicated than you might imagine. Plus, improperly disposing of a bed could also leave behind a number of problems, not to mention the landfill pollution factor. For these reasons alone, it is mandatory to do proper research before getting started. Here are a few pointers you could use:
Check the Warranty on Your Mattress
Before you are ready to jump straight into the action and try to dispose of your mattress, check the warranty. It will let you know what is the time frame during which the manufacturer will replace your mattress provided it will suffer any damage. On average, the warranty is anywhere between five and ten years. Find out if the warranty also covers the actual removal of the mattress and its replacement. If removal is not part of the terms of the warranty, you will need to personally dispose of it.
Familiarize Yourself With the State Mattress Disposal Policies
Prior to disposing of your mattress, do some research regarding your state’s policy for mattress removal. If you live in California or Connecticut, you will need to obey the strict mattress recycling laws there and follow special recycling programs for mattresses. If you live in a state that does not have any dedicated mattress disposal rules, you may need to do some additional research to learn if there are any state guidelines to follow.
Recycle the Mattress
Keep in mind that around eight out of ten mattresses can be recycled, and simply throwing a mattress in the garbage will most likely send it straight into a landfill, so opting for recycling services is an excellent idea. Use your zip code and do a Google search for nearby mattress recycling centers.
Be prepared to cover a usually small mattress pick-up fee of around $40. Provided your mattress is wet, infested with bed bugs, or heavily stained, you may not be able to recycle or donate it. However, a mattress that is ripped or torn will usually be given the green light for recycling.
Donate the Mattress
Look for a local charity center willing to access your mattress as a donation. You may find an organization willing to provide you with free pickup and help you get a tax deduction for the donation. The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, or Goodwill are a few organizations that accept old mattresses. Local hotels, thrift stores, hospitals, or homeless shelters may also accept your donation.
Throw the Mattress Out
If you have tried everything else and to no avail, you may want to throw your old mattress out. Just remember to carefully follow the city guidelines and rules regarding throwing away mattresses. In some parts of the country, you will not be allowed to leave the mattress in the trash or you will risk getting a fine or a ticket. Some cities will allow you to throw out the mattress in the dumpster while following certain wrapping rules.
If you live someplace where throwing your mattress out is not allowed using a regular trash bin, contact private waste disposal or a junk removal service in your area. They will come over, pick up the mattress for you and help you dispose of it safely.
Finally, keep in mind the option of throwing out an old mattress should be the last one on your list you could always try to resell, it, donate, it, find a different purpose for it, or recycle it first. An expert mattress cleaner might also be able to expand its lifespan for longer.
Prior to disposing of your mattress, do some research regarding your state’s policy for mattress removal. If you live in California or Connecticut, you will need to obey the strict mattress recycling laws there and follow special recycling programs for mattresses. If you live in a state that does not have any dedicated mattress disposal rules, you may need to do some additional research to learn if there are any state guidelines to follow.
Recycle the Mattress
Keep in mind that around eight out of ten mattresses can be recycled, and simply throwing a mattress in the garbage will most likely send it straight into a landfill, so opting for recycling services is an excellent idea. Use your zip code and do a Google search for nearby mattress recycling centers.
Be prepared to cover a usually small mattress pick-up fee of around $40. Provided your mattress is wet, infested with bed bugs, or heavily stained, you may not be able to recycle or donate it. However, a mattress that is ripped or torn will usually be given the green light for recycling.
Donate the Mattress
Look for a local charity center willing to access your mattress as a donation. You may find an organization willing to provide you with free pickup and help you get a tax deduction for the donation. The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, or Goodwill are a few organizations that accept old mattresses. Local hotels, thrift stores, hospitals, or homeless shelters may also accept your donation.
Throw the Mattress Out
If you have tried everything else and to no avail, you may want to throw your old mattress out. Just remember to carefully follow the city guidelines and rules regarding throwing away mattresses. In some parts of the country, you will not be allowed to leave the mattress in the trash or you will risk getting a fine or a ticket. Some cities will allow you to throw out the mattress in the dumpster while following certain wrapping rules.
If you live someplace where throwing your mattress out is not allowed using a regular trash bin, contact private waste disposal or a junk removal service in your area. They will come over, pick up the mattress for you and help you dispose of it safely.
Finally, keep in mind the option of throwing out an old mattress should be the last one on your list you could always try to resell, it, donate, it, find a different purpose for it, or recycle it first. An expert mattress cleaner might also be able to expand its lifespan for longer.