What Should I Do With My Old Mattress

Your mattress has served you well and now you have determined that your old mattress has seen better days, but mattresses are really big and very bulky and not to mention heavy. This leaves us asking the question: What Should I Do With My Old Mattress ?

What services to do mattress stores offer for getting rid of old mattresses?

When you purchase a new mattress set from a furniture or mattress store most will offer a haul away option. If it is not mentioned don’t be surprised, they don’t want it any more than you do. The fact is most have to pay to have the old set disposed of in a landfill so be sure to ask for the service to make sure it is available. Some will charge a nominal fee of 20-30 dollars while some companies may throw it in as a courtesy of buying the bed from them.

What should I do with my old mattress? Image (matresses by jon.hayes)

Are there charitable organizations that take old mattresses?

There are a whole host of organizations that will take old mattresses and see to it that people in need receive them. Most of these organizations will not take and do not want worn out, stained beds. They are generally looking for mattresses that show little wear and are relatively clean. There are many people out there that cannot afford new mattresses and would be happy to sleep on something other than the floor. Churches, veteran’s organizations, Goodwill, women’s shelter the list goes on and on. It may take a few phone calls just think helpful and you’re heading in the right direction.

Do trash companies take away old mattresses?

Most do, however if large item disposal is not included in your monthly trash service you will likely have to pay extra for a large item haul away and disposal. The cost is usually 25 -50 dollars they will add to your bill. Some companies do not offer mattress disposal service so call your waste provider for specific information. Another option is to contact your local trash transfer or landfill they should be able to explain their policy for the disposing of old bedding.

What are my recycling options?

At this time there is not a national mattress recycling program nor is there anything mandating that they must be recycled. The International Sleep Products Association will be meeting with mattress manufacturers and retailers on July 31 at the Las Vegas World Furniture Market to discuss building a national system to recycle used mattress materials and oppose what the group believes is costly and inefficient state legislation being proposed.

Finally you should follow local laws and regulations please don’t dump old mattresses off the side of the road or into rivers or any place else for that matter improper disposal cost us all in the form of taxes for cleanup. Lastly do not attempt to burn it. Mattresses are big and fires can quickly get out of hand.

Let us know what you do with your old mattresses below.