What to Do with Old Mattresses and Box Springs

What to do with old mattresses and box springs when you get a new mattress set?

The average mattress and box spring set lasts about 10 years before it should be replaced. This means that you'll be buying a few mattress sets throughout your lifetime, but what do you do with the old ones?

A growing problem in landfills around the world is the number of mattresses and box springs piling up in the landfills. They don't break down easily and take up a large amount of space. The website known as Planet Green states that just around 10% of a mattress and box spring can not be recycled, meaning the vast majority of the materials used in mattress making can be recycled. Mattresses and box springs often contain metals, rubbers, wood, and various types of fabric and filling.

You should recycle your mattress if at all possible as some landfills have begun to turn away mattresses and box springs or charge a handling fee for accepting them.

Here are some ways to get rid of an old mattress set.

Donate:

If the mattress and box spring is in good condition and less than 10 years old you may be able to donate it to a charity such as Goodwill. You may also be able to offer it as a hand me down to a friend or relative. But keep in mind that mattresses that have water damage, are heavily worn, or are over 10 years old usually won't be accepted for donation and won't be healthy to sleep on.

Return:

Some mattress sellers will take back old mattresses and box springs. While some stores simply send them to the landfill others will recondition them or send them to a recycling center. Ask before turning the old set over to see if the company supports mattress recycling.

If you happen to be buying a new mattress ask about free mattress removal and disposal which will save you time and a trip to the store or recycling center.

Recycle yourself:

Call your local waste management office or government office and ask if there are any mattress recycling facilities around. If there are you can schedule a pick up or bring the mattress and box spring yourself to a facility. But don't show up unannounced at a recycling center, some may not be equipped to deal with large items made up of multiple materials such as box springs and mattresses.

Reference: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/recycle-matress.html