How to Dispose of a Mattress: The best ways

Last Updated on January 18, 2023

Are you thinking of buying a new mattress, or have you recently purchased one? If yes, you’ll soon need to dispose of your old one.

Have you found an appropriate mattress disposal method? If not, here is a detailed article about how to dispose of a mattress which details environmentally friendly, cheap, and easy ways of disposing of a used mattress. But for starters, let’s look at how long a mattress can last.

How Long Do Mattresses Last?

According to the National bed federation, the average life span of a mattress is estimated to be between 7-10 years. This is why it’s always advisable to change your mattress after seven years. But keep in mind the following factors can also determine the longevity of a mattress.

• The type and quality of materials of the mattress
• Cleaning and maintenance
• The body weight sleeping style of a sleeper
• The frequency of a sleeper on the bed

On the flip side, if you’re looking to shop for a new mattress that can withstand the test of time. You may consider a latex mattress since it has a life span of 15 years compared to both memory foam and innerspring mattresses.

Signs That You Need a New Mattress

Knowing the lifespan of a mattress is useful. However, these are just set guidelines. Figuring out the ideal time to replace your mattress is always a personal decision that involves several considerations and factors. Here are some factors you should consider.

Wear and Tear

Signs of wear and tear include sagging, lumping, and hammocking, and your mattress has noisy springs. Apart from that, you can also feel the coils through the top of the mattress. All of these signs are sure reasons why you need a new mattress.

Changes to Your Quality of Sleep

Do you have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep? Are you able to feel the movement of your partner more often than before? These are some basic signs that your old mattress needs a replacement.

How to Dispose of a Mattress?

Disposing of an old mattress might seem like a daunting task. There are some very easy and simple methods of doing it. However, other methods may require some effort in doing so. Well, let’s take a look at some mattress disposal methods.

Contact the Local Council

Contact your local council for mattress collection services. Since they normally provide a bulk waste collection service that often includes the collection of old beds and mattresses.

However, bear in mind that most councils charge for the mattress disposal service. But not all local councils will charge you as some may offer the service for free. Also, you will need to leave your old mattress at a specific spot outside your house or on your front door for them to come and collect it.

Purchase a Collection and Disposal Service

One of the easiest and fastest ways of disposing of an old mattress is by purchasing a collection and disposal service. This service is offered by professional companies that come and collect it from your house. The service is not only easy but also cost-effective.

Donate the Mattress

If you have an old mattress in good condition, you can consider giving it away for free or donating it to charity. You will be helping someone who needs one, but it won’t end up in a landfill. Furthermore, donating is another cheap option to dispose of your old mattress.

Furthermore, it’s noteworthy to mention organisations such as Emmaus, British Red Cross, and the British Heart Foundation will resell the old mattresses and ensure that the proceeds fund a good cause. Alternatively, you can opt to donate to other charities that accept donations of mattresses.

Keep in mind that these charities have their standards for what is acceptable when it comes to mattress donations. Also, there will be times you are required to send some images of the item for them to prove whether it’s acceptable or not.

Moreover, the organisation will also expect that the mattress is fit for use and must be clean and have an intact fire label.

Consider Reselling It

Reselling an old mattress is another ideal method of disposing of it. However, if you consider this option, make sure that your mattress is clean and in good condition. Also, ensure that all the fire safety labels and tags are intact.

Take the Mattress to Your Local Tip

Normally, it’s advisable to take your old mattress to the tip if all the other options are unsuccessful. However, taking your mattress to the tip is not always recommended since it may still end up in a landfill, meaning that this is not the most environment-friendly option.

Remember that you may require a large enough vehicle to haul your mattress. If it’s worn down, consider bending it or rolling it up, as this helps fit it in the vehicle.

Recycling the Mattress

According to research conducted by the furniture recycling Group, approximately, you can fill Wembley stadium five times with 7.5 million mattresses that are always discarded every year. But there are various recycling options that you can consider when disposing of a mattress. And mattress recycling is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get rid of your old mattress.

Please note that throwing away your mattress in the garbage will end up in one of the landfill sites, thus adding more waste to the environment.

Despite being labour intensive, several facilities that conduct mattress recycling have sprung up around the Uk. These mattress recycling facilities help break down old mattresses into recyclable components- Metal springs are normally melted down and then remoulded into new metal products.

On the other hand, you can use synthetic layers such as foam from a memory foam mattress to make a carpet underlay. Optionally, you can send the foam from memory foam mattresses to a plant where it may convert them to valuable energy.

On the flip side, you can pay a bulky waste service to come to collect your old mattress and take it to a recycling centre. If you reside in Greater London, you can consider this bulky waste collection service its cheapest option.

Not only can they help you get rid of an old bed and mattresses. But also they can be used for other junk removals from your household.

Optionally, you can also use the company delivering your new mattress or a specialist removal company to ensure the mattress is recycled at your local recycling centre if you don’t live close to a local recycling centre.

How Not to Dispose of Your Mattress?

Still planning to dispose of your mattress but don’t want to undergo a rigorous process? Here are some options available. However, most of the lists provided below are considered illegal, so better think twice whenever disposing of your mattress.

Burning the Mattress

Although this is considered one way, it’s still not advisable to burn a mattress. This is due to the flames that may be hard to control and cause a fire hazard. Additionally, the fumes from the burning mattress and its components may be harmful to you.

Hiring a Skip

While this may seem like an easy way out, you’ll want to steer clear of this option. Not only will you be contributing to the landfill problem. But also, it’s a punishable offence, especially if you dump your mattress into another person’s skip without permission.

Dumping Your Mattress Out on the Street

Leaving your mattress out in the street is only a viable option if you have arranged a collection date with your local council. However, if that is not the case, then don’t leave your mattress out in the street. As it’s not only anti-social but also constitutes fly-tipping.

Fly-Tipping

This illegal dumping of waste on land doesn’t have a license to accept it, whether it’s an old mattress, electric items, or other household junk.

It’s noteworthy to mention that fly-tipping is becoming a problem since many councils tend to report an increase in fly-tipping incidents. So please avoid this waste disposal method as it only has a negative environmental impact.

Ready to Dispose of Your Mattress?

Well, that’s it on how to dispose of a mattress. However, remember that not all mattresses deserve to be disposed of. If you can reuse your mattresses, consider reselling or donating them to charitable organisations. Optionally, you can consider using mattress collection and disposal services to get rid of your old mattress fast and with very little effort. Lastly, always ensure that you use an environmentally friendly method to get rid of your mattress disposal to have as little impact on the natural world as possible.