Old mattresses are something we all have to eventually deal with. When it comes time to get a mattress removed, there are several options available. Did you know that up to 90% of a mattress can be transformed into reusable materials? Sadly, the percentage of discarded mattresses that end up in the dump is very high. Mattresses have several recyclable components that can be sorted by hand, and it’s usually labor-intensive to do that. This is why mattresses have a disposal fee at the dump.
Things you can do to help cut down the cost of your mattress
Disposal includes cutting the mattress up along the sides and removing the inner metal coils yourself. The coils can then be taken to the dump at 500 Mecham Rd. in Petaluma and disposed of in the free metal container there by the weigh-in scales. You will be left with the mattress foam, which can then be recycled, or discarded at the landfill.
It takes 50 to 100 years for a mattress to decompose when dumped in a landfill. Every mattress that is dumped into a landfill takes up 23 cubic feet of space, and California is predicted to run out of space in all of our landfills within the next decade.
Mattresses dumped in landfills can only be buried where they sit and decompose letting different chemicals used to compose foam and fibers seep into the ground and into our water supply. The water is then returned to the ecosystem where it is consumed by humans, the animals we eat, and the crops we depend on for nutrition.
Can I throw an old mattress out?
Once you’ve come to the conclusion that you can’t be using your old mattress anymore, you’re ready to throw it out right?
Unfortunately, It’s not that simple. One can simply think it would be convenient to put it out in the trash bin, which gets taken weekly, however that is not possible as the mattress is too big, and they simply won’t accept it.
You can take your mattress to the tip, however this options requires a lot of manual labour, and you will require a van for the transportation. Depending on your location, the local tip also requires some permission too.
At Next Day Clean Up, we recycle all mattresses we receive by hand. We will cut, separate, and recycle all the materials. This is why mattresses have a 47$ surcharge at the dump. When it comes time to get rid of your old mattresses, 707-NEXT-DAY is the best, most ethical option.
Can I donate the mattress?
Depending on the condition of the mattress, you simply can donate it. We would recommend that you reach out to your locals, or simply put up a poster. The best method is perhaps using the online services Facebook provides. The marketplace is a great place to start Facebook groups. In this case, this is a great option if you want to get rid of your old mattress for free. At the same time, the environment has benefitted from your actions.
This option has two downsides. You’ll use your spare time if you decide to announce this somewhere, and you’ll most likely need a transportation vehicle, depending on the next owner.
The most convenient option is still hiring a junk removal service.
Where to recycle a mattress
As mentioned earlier in the post, if you have a means of transport, you can take your old mattress to the local recycling centre. However, for many people this is not an option, since most people either don’t have the appropriate transportation vehicle or time for this.
If taking your mattress yourself is not an option, call us at (707) 639-8329 and we’ll handle the situation for a small fee.