Once Upon a Mattress

Recycling bottles and cans is a no-brainer, but what to do with a mattress that’s outlived its usefulness? Fortunately, there are better options than sending it to the landfill.

Before tossing the mattress, first reconsider. Can the mattress be cleaned or repaired? Will a topper meet your needs for less money, less hassle? Is it in good enough condition to donate?

Once those options have been explored, the next step is to call your city or county public works and ask them how your community handles discarded mattresses and whether they’re recycled. Maybe you’re lucky enough to live in a community that provides mattress recycling as a standard service. If not, don’t give up.

Search in your community for a recycler, or call 1-800-GOT-JUNK to ask for advice. You might also try posting on Freecycle.com to see if there’s a taker.

If all else fails, try dismantling it yourself. Box springs can be an adventure to take apart, revealing it’s individual recyclable or reusable components: Metal, wood, cotton, foam.

But don’t take it from us. Read it from the experts! https://sustainablelivingassociation.org/how-to-recycle-yo…/

Photo by Allen Taylor on Unsplash