How to Throw Away a Mattress

A used mattress can be disposed of in a variety of ways, including through donation and recycling. The approach that is best for you will depend on the condition of the mattress and your location. We'll outline the various mattress disposal techniques and explain how to pick the best one for your needs.

How can you determine when your mattress needs to be replaced?

First things first: how can you tell when a mattress needs to be replaced?

According to mattress manufacturers and retailers, mattresses should be replaced on average every eight years.

After around 6 years, hybrid innerspring-foam mattresses typically need to be replaced. With proper care, many mattresses that aren't innerspring-foam can be used for at about 10 years. With the some maintenance, mattresses made of memory foam and latex can last up to 15 years. As you can see, the materials a mattress is built of and how well you care for it affect how long it typically lasts. Do you still experience the same level of support and comfort from your mattress as you did previously? How a mattress feels and how well you sleep on it are the two most reliable indicators of whether or not your mattress needs to be replaced.

When you decide it's time for a new mattress, what do you do with your old one?

Instead of throwing away mattresses, many people choose to donate them. Some mattresses are thrown out because they are beyond repair or extremely worn.

How Can You Tell If Your Mattress Is in Good Enough Condition to Be Donated?

Every charity, group, and shelter has their own requirements for what constitutes a suitable mattress donation. There are a few standard rules, though:

Infestations: Don't give away mattresses that have infestations of any kind, especially bed bugs. Even if you have thoroughly cleaned your mattress after discovering bed bugs, mold, or other life forms that live in mattresses, these infestations are frequently deeply ingrained in the mattress.
Serious Structural Issues: A mattress may become useless if its coils are bent, protruding, or damaged. Wear and tear results in structural issues including excessive sagging and asymmetric bunching. Mattresses with significant, long-lasting dents may also be unsuitable for re-use.
Rips, Tears, and Holes: To donate a mattress to a person in need, the mattress must be free of these flaws.
It's not a good idea to donate stained mattresses. This includes visible, persistent discoloration from use over time as well as both big and little stains from any substance. Try to get rid of any little blemishes, stains, or other problems you believe a DIY cleaning could resolve.
Vacuum: The top and sides of a mattress can be thoroughly vacuumed to get rid of dust, pet hair, human skin and dander. If you have a smaller or handheld vacuum, using it for this task is recommended. However, a standard vacuum will work just fine.
Spot Clean: Baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide can all be used to get rid of minor stains. A thick paste made of salt and lemon juice can be applied to the stain and let to sit for an hour.
Smells: Perform a sniff test. Baking soda sprinkled on the mattress could help eliminate minor odors.

Make sure it is clean, pest-free, and devoid of odors and infestations. If the mattress cannot be used, donating it will be of no use to anyone.

Utilizing Old Mattresses

Up to 20 million mattresses, every year end up in landfills, each one taking up 40 cubic feet of space. About 80 to 90 percent of mattress materials can be disassembled and repurposed.

Mattress Recycling Centers

Mattresses are sometimes accepted in recycling facilities like van der Linde Recycling. Facilities like ours may also have agreements with businesses that will collect and recycle your old mattresses. We use Pete's Pick-Up, Inc. In a few states, Extended Producer Responsibility Programs (EPRs), will pickup and recycle mattresses either free or inexpensively.

Here are a few helpful resourses you can consult if you're having problems locating recycling facilities that will accept a mattress.

Bye Bye Mattress: This EPR is available in several states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, and California. There are tools available to help you locate a program to recycle your mattress if you reside in one of those states.
Municipal Offices: Trash collection and recycling are handled locally by municipal offices in a lot of cities and municipalities. To find out which municipal department is in charge, conduct a search for your particular city or town (or by your zip code). Get in touch with the municipal office in your area to find out where and how to recycle a mattress.
Internet Search: If you're looking for a place to recycle your mattress, Search mattress recycling near me and see what comes up.

DIY Recycling

If you are unable to transport your mattress to a recycling facility and that facility doesn't offer pick-up service, or if you are unable to find a facility close enough to you that accepts mattresses, you may still have recycling choices, so all hope is not lost!

Your mattress can be readily disassembled into recyclable parts if you have the necessary time, space, and tools. Mattresses in their entirety may not be accepted at some recycling facilities, but if your mattress has metal springs, many places will pay you for those springs if you remove them from the mattress carcass.
Reuse old mattresses: One choice is to turn your old mattress, or even just a portion of it, into something entirely different.
Animal bedding: Do you like to sew? Mattress foam, fabric, and padding materials can be used to create new animal bedding.
Art projects and home décor: Broken-down mattress components can be used to create a wide variety of unique artworks and home décor. If you're inventive enough, mattresses may surely be given a second life. For example, you might create a bookcase out of bed slats or a wine rack out of recycled steel springs.

Getting Rid of Your Mattress

Throwing away your mattress is an alternative if you are unable to donate, give away, recycle, or upcycle it. Several towns have unique rules and ordinances about how to dispose of mattresses so be sure to look rules that may apply in your area.

If you must trash it, here are a few options to consider:

Use a Waste Disposal Service: Mattress removal is one of the many services offered by reputable junk removal businesses. Before scheduling an appointment, it is worthwhile to compare prices and read reviews from other customers. When selecting a service, consider one that mentions mattress recycling on their website.
Request mattress removal from the manufacturer of your new mattress: Several mattress firms include mattress disposal in their delivery services. When delivering your new mattress, some providers will remove your old one for an additional charge or recommend a disposal service.

Conclusion

The lifespan of a mattress depends on its material and how well it's taken care of. Remember, the best indicators of when a mattress needs to be replaced are its comfort and support levels, as well as the quality of sleep it provides. A used mattress can be donated if it is in good condition, free of infestations, serious structural issues, rips, tears, and holes, and clean without odors. Alternatively, it can be recycled. Many local recycling centers accept mattresses, and some have agreements with businesses for collection and recycling.

If you are located in the Troy VA area, contact van der Linde Recycling at 434-589-1948 for more information about our mattress recycling program. If you are unable to bring your mattress to us, our affiliate, Pete's Pick-Up will haul it to their furniture bank for reuse or bring it to us for recycling. Pete's Pick-Up can be reached at 434-962-2003 or you can schedule your pickup online at www.petespickup.com.