♻️ Recycle Week: How to recycle a mattress and why it’s important

Did you know that only 19% of mattresses are recycled – meaning that 8 million mattresses end up in UK landfill every year?

Martin Seeley, the CEO of MattressNextDay has advised how to dispose of or properly recycle your old mattress given that it’s currently Recycle Week (20^th – 26^th September).

MATTRESS EXPERTS SHARE THE TOP SIGNS THAT YOUR MATTRESS NEEDS REPLACED

If looked after properly, a good-quality mattress should last between eight and ten years. However, if you feel that your mattress may be on its last legs, here are the key indicators that it’s time for it to be replaced:

1. Is it lumpy? – These start to form when the filling in the mattress moves around and clumps together. The result is that the mattress won’t offer you support in all the right places.
2. Is it sagging? – When the springs start to get past their sell-by, fillings get compressed, or memory foam mattresses start to soften which prevents them from being supportive. These can both cause back problems. You may also note that you roll towards the centre when you lie down.
3. Are you suffering from allergies? – If a mattress lasts eight years, that’s around 2,920 nights of use. Each night, we shed around 300,000 dead skin cells, which provide food for dust mites. Over the years, even the best mattresses will accumulate allergens. So, if you find yourself itching in bed, wake up sneezing or feel as though you’ve got a cold brewing, it might be time to replace your mattress.
4. You wake up with a sore back – If you have a sore or stiff neck and back when you wake up, this is an indicator that your mattress needs replacing.
5. The mattress is over 10 years old – This is the maximum period you should keep the same mattress for. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECYCLE YOUR MATTRESS AND NOT JUST THROW IT AWAY?

Statistics released by the National Bed Federation revealed that only 19% of mattresses are recycled, with ‘the cost’ and ‘inconvenience’ being the main reasons for not getting rid of them this way.

Many people choose to take them to a tip (if they can fit them in their car), however, doing this contributes to 8 million mattresses that end up in a landfill. Zero Waste Scotland estimated that if the 600,000 mattresses Scotland throws away every year were stacked on top of each other, the pile would be 100 times taller than Ben Nevis.

Similarly, many people may choose to illegally fly tip but it is also extremely problematic. English councils spend £58m a year on clear-up, with mattresses among the most illegally dumped items. Plus, if you were caught fly-tipping, you could be fined or prosecuted.

HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR MATTRESS FOR FREE (IF IT’S IN GOOD, CLEAN CONDITION)

The cheapest way to recycle your mattress is to donate it to charity as they will pick it up for free, however, this is dictated by the condition of your mattress.

It needs to be in good and clean condition, and still, bear its fire safety label which you’ll find on the underside. Charities such as the Red Cross, the British Heart Foundation, women’s refugees, and homeless centres may take it.

Alternatively, you could give your mattress away on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or another social platform. Many people may require a mattress but can’t afford a brand-new one. Do, however, make it clear that you’re giving it away for free but that they’ll need to pay for the transport (if you’re not providing it). You should also be clear about what size it is and the true condition so that you’re not wasting each other’s time.

IS IT IN POOR CONDITION? THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE IT BUT THERE ARE CAVEATS

If your mattress isn’t in tip-top condition, you can also arrange for the council to dispose of it for you. However, most councils charge around £50 and come with certain caveats. For example, they may only be able to pick it up from a designated place or a designated time in a certain way.

It’s also not clear what happens with these mattresses as they may also end up in a landfill, as opposed to being recycled.

BUYING A NEW MATTRESS? MATTRESSNEXTDAY PROVIDES A SERVICE IN WHICH 100% OF YOUR OLD MATTRESS IS RECYCLED 

If you plan on purchasing a new mattress and find yourself on the MattressNextDay website, it’s worth noting that they provide a service that ensures that 100% of your mattress is recycled and used.

Costing just £39, they have partnered up with The Furniture Recycling Group to make disposing and recycling of mattresses easier and cheaper for customers. 100% of the mattress is broken down into its components, which are then sent off to industries that can benefit from these raw materials. Steel from the springs, wool, cotton fillings and even the cushioning material all have a new life.

MattressNextDay will also handle the mattress you want to dispose of. You don’t have to pack the mattress in a particular way or place it outside. All they need is easy access to it in your bedroom and they’ll move it for you.

Their service is offered as a ‘like for like’ old mattress collection service. For example, if you order two mattresses from them, you can arrange to have up to two of your old mattresses picked up and recycled at the same time. This is due to the storage capacity in our delivery vans. It also helps minimise the number of trips made to and from the depot. In turn, this helps to keep things greener.

—