How to recycle: Mattresses

On November 1, 2022, Massachusetts banned mattresses from trash disposal. Why did Massachusetts do this? And what options do you have for old mattresses? 

Zero Waste Melrose has information, resources, and ideas for you.

Why did Massachusetts enact a mattress disposal ban?

According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), discarded mattresses are expensive to transport, hard to compact, take up lots of landfill space, and can damage incinerator processing equipment. When you visualize a mattress, it makes sense, right?

More than 600,000 mattresses and box springs are discarded in Massachusetts annually. Yet, did you know that mattresses are composed mostly of recyclable materials? Roughly 75% of all mattress and box spring components can be easily disassembled and recycled. The recovered materials are then used to manufacture a variety of new products. Have a peek at the infographic from MassDEP about a mattress’s components and what it all can be turned into. This is better for the environment, our economy, and municipal waste management budgets.

What is included / not included in the ban?

The regulation defines a mattress as: “any resilient material or combination of materials that is enclosed by ticking…and that is intended for sleeping upon”

Included in the ban: all size mattresses (California king, king, queen, full, twin XL, twin, crib), including full-foam and latex mattresses, as well as mattresses-in-a-box. All size box springs.  

Not included in the ban: mattress pad, mattress topper, sleeping bag, pillow, car bed, carriage, basket, dressing table, stroller, playpen, infant carrier, lounge pad, crib bumper, liquid- or gas-filled ticking, including any waterbed and any air mattress that does not contain upholstery material between the ticking and the mattress core, futons, and sofa beds

Also not included are mattresses that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.

What are my options to remove old mattresses?

There are essentially two options: donate or recycle. 

1. DONATE. If your mattress is in good condition, use MassDEP’s Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory to find organizations near you that will accept it for reuse or recycling.

2. RECYCLE: Consumer Mattress Recycling

Retailer haul-away. If you purchase a new mattress from a mattress or furniture store, your retailer most likely offers a removal option for your old mattress, usually for a nominal fee.

Use one of Melrose’s two mattress collection programs – drop-off or curbside pick-up. 

1. Drop off (coming in Spring 2023)  Mattresses and box springs will be accepted for drop-off at the City Yard on Saturdays only (open seasonally April until December) 8:00 am – 2:45 pm for a fee of $33 per unit, regardless of size. Each piece is considered a unit; therefore, a mattress is one unit and a box spring is another, separate unit. Size does not determine the fee, so a king-sized mattress and a crib-sized mattress are subject to the same fee of $33 each. 

Pre-payment in advance of drop off is required either by credit / debit card online (https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/) or by visiting the City Yard Office at 72 Tremont Street (M-F, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm) with cash or check, no credit or debit cards.

2. Curbside Pickup  You can schedule curbside pickup directly through the vendor Tough Stuff Recycling by visiting their scheduling portal. Tough Stuff Recycling has a handy FAQ that provides more information about their service and other options as well. 

What if my mattress is contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, bed bugs, etc.?

These mattresses cannot be donated or recycled and must be handled separately. Please call the Melrose DPW 781-665-0142 or email recycle@cityofmelrose.org for assistance. Let Melrose’s DPW know that you have a mattress that is not recyclable due to its condition or contamination.