Are Old Mattresses Recyclable?

May 26, 2021

Having an old mattress that you really want to get rid of can be frustrating. It is taking up space in your house, garage, or shed on your property. It may be tempting to just take it to a landfill and throw it out. However, did you know that more than 50,000 mattresses are thrown into landfills in the United States every day. This poses many problems. Most mattresses are not biodegradable, so they are in the landfill taking up space for decades or even centuries. Another problem is that the chemicals from some of the mattress materials can get into groundwater and the soil.

What are you supposed to do with your old mattress? Are old mattresses recyclable? Yes, they are and that is actually the best way to get rid of a mattress.

What parts of a mattress can you recycle?

If you are thinking about recycling your old mattress, you may be wondering if you can recycle the entire mattress or if you can only recycle some of it. The common parts of mattresses that are often recycled include the following:

Wood
Steel
Foam

There may be some other parts of older mattresses that can be recycled, as well. You can always as a mattress recycling company what parts of the mattress they will take to recycle.

How can old mattresses and box springs be recycled?

When you have an old mattress, it is best to have it recycled, instead of tossing it into a landfill. With this being said, you may be wondering how you can recycle a mattress and box spring. The things that you may need to know about recycling these things include the following:

All mattresses and box springs that can be recycled will be taken into the recycling center
The mattresses and box springs are taken apart (the foam, metal, wood, and other materials are separated)
These materials will then be baled and sent to consumers, so they can be repurposed

Now you know how old mattresses and box springs are recycled. From here, you can start deciding how you will go about recycling the mattress or mattresses that you want to get rid of.

What are the best ways to recycle or get rid of your old mattresses?

Now you know old mattresses can be recycled. It is time to make a plan for how you will get rid of your mattresses. Some of the ways that you can do this include the following:

If you plan to buy a new mattress and someone is delivering it to you, you can ask them if they can take your old mattress to have it recycled
If you have a recycling program in your area that collects bulk waste, you can contact them to find out if they will come to get your old mattress
You can contact secondhand stores in your area such as Salvation Army or Goodwill to see if they will accept your mattress (many of these places will recycle larger items such as mattresses)
If you are cleaning out your house or a different property you may want to hire a hauling/cleaning company (they will take the mattress and other items you don’t want)

These are all responsible ways for you to get rid of your old mattresses. When you have your old mattresses recycled, you are doing something good for the environment.

Why is it so important to recycle old mattresses?

As mentioned above, there are over 50,000 mattresses that get discarded into landfills throughout the U.S. every single day. These mattresses take up so much space, leak chemicals into the ground, and cause numerous other environmental issues, as well. Some of the other reasons why it is so important to recycle old mattresses include the following:

Lessen the number of mattresses discarded into landfills
Create more recycling jobs throughout the United States
Reduce the negative impacts on the environment and in your local area
Creating new products from the recycled old mattress materials and parts

By recycling old mattresses, you will be reducing the negative impacts that discarding mattresses into landfills has on the environment. You will also be able to rest easier knowing that you are doing something positive for the earth.

Conclusion

Old mattresses are recyclable. If you have an old mattress or many old mattresses that you need to get rid of, don’t throw them into a landfill. That is the worst place for old mattresses. They are bulky and can leak chemicals into the ground. It is best to contact a mattress recycling company to come to get your old mattresses. These companies will safely discard the mattress.

If you still have questions about how the mattress recycling programs work, feel free to reach out to The Mattress Guy to talk about the process.

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How Mattress Recycling Helps Businesses Meet ESG Targets

October 27, 2025

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has become an essential part of how businesses measure responsible operations. Across the United States, investors and customers expect companies to take real action on sustainability, and not just talk about it. While many ESG programs focus on reducing emissions or improving energy efficiency, waste management often gets less attention. In industries like hospitality, healthcare, and property management, mattress waste and box springs make up a large portion of landfill waste and carbon emissions. By working with a trusted partner like The Mattress Guy Co, businesses can integrate a certified mattress recycling program into their ESG strategy. This turns a disposal challenge into measurable progress toward sustainability goals.