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4 Ways to Keep Your Mattress from Creating Waste

11/5/2019

8 Comments

 
4 Ways to Keep Your Mattress from Creating Waste
Mattresses take up a good amount of space in your home, and unfortunately, in the landfill. However, when it’s time for a new one, these large home products don’t need to become unsightly waste - Find out how!
Written by Sarah Johnson
Zero Waste Advocate working for Tuck, a community devoted to improving sleep hygiene, health and wellness through the creation and dissemination of comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources.
You have options that will keep your mattress out of the landfill. With a two-fold approach to reduce waste and buy environmentally-friendly mattresses, you can make a difference.

1. Donate the Old
Many national and local charity or thrift organizations accept mattress donations. Be sure your mattress is stain, tear, and odor free. If you live in an area with bed bugs, mattress donations may not be accepted. To save yourself the hassle of loading and hauling your mattress, call ahead to make sure it will be accepted. Do NOT leave your old mattress behind a charity store after hours. You may be leaving them with the problem of disposal and most likely it will end up in the landfill.

2. Look Up Recycling Facilities
The parts and components of many different types of mattresses can be recycled. For example:
  • Steel Springs: Innerspring mattresses can contain as much as 20 pounds of recyclable steel.
  • Foam: Foam can be shredded to make bike helmets and car seats.
  • Natural Fibers: Cotton and wool mattress covers can be shredded and used to make new textiles.
The trick is finding a facility to do the recycling because breaking down a mattress takes time and space. Call your local recycling facility or get online to find the closest mattress recycling location. Many require a recycling fee of anywhere between $20-$40 and may include pick up for another small fee.

3. Think Outside the Box
Mattresses are full of components, from braiding and buttons to nails and screws that can be used for other projects. Innersprings can be used to make wreaths or transformed into a picture holding room divider. Memory foam can be used to make a dog bed or chair cushions. Wood slats come in handy for all kinds of home projects. If you’re up to dismantling the mattress yourself, with a little creativity, you can probably use most of the components around your home.

4. Choose an Environmentally-Friendly Mattress
​
The truth is that there’s no mattress that’s 100 percent green, organic, or environmentally friendly, but there are some that come close. All-natural latex mattresses are derived from the sap of the rubber tree. After the sap goes through a series of manufacturing processes, it makes a mattress that’s both durable and comfortable. These mattresses are biodegradable, leaving behind a white residue.
Ways to Keep Your Mattress from Creating Waste
However, latex mattresses can be expensive. If you need something more affordable, look for mattresses made with organic components through environmentally-friendly practices. Organic cotton and/or wool covers, plant-based foams, and fire socks instead of chemical flame retardants produce less waste and make disposal easier.

To help you find an environmentally-friendly mattress, look for certifications from independent organizations that monitor environmental impact like:
  • Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): Certifies latex products that are 95 percent organically produced.
  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): Certifies that raw materials, as well as derivative products, are made of at least 70 percent organic materials.
  • Cradle to Cradle: This certification is only given after evaluating carbon emissions, water conservation, and ecological impact of the latex and materials used to make mattress covers.
There are many other certifications, just take the time to look them up so you know what they mean and how your mattress affects the environment.

A mattress doesn’t have to become waste. With a few phone calls and research, you can dispose of the old and find a new one that will cut down on your environmental footprint.
8 Comments
Ejeta kelvin link
5/23/2020 01:12:55

Sleeping in the bed is the best way to relax, but not all mattress is worth lying on. I have used different cheap mattresses, but I started enjoying my sleep when I started using the more expensive ones. Every time I make use of a cheap mattress, I always find it hard to fall asleep because the mattress basically makes me sweat a lot. But with an expensive one, I can have a good night sleep because it is very comfortable. This content is no doubt very engaging. I am going to bookmark your blog and keep checking it weekly to read more contents like this. <a href="https://naijschools.com/how-to-see-someones-hidden-friends-on-facebook/">Open this link</a> to reach my website and check out its contents. Please let me know if this okay with you. Many Thanks

Reply
RaduB link
6/21/2021 08:13:37

It's not only about expensive/cheap. It's also about the type of mattress that you buy.

Reply
mattress cleaning dubai link
6/8/2020 05:58:48

Actually, I thought this idea, but when I want to try then I thought I was wrong but after reading this blog I hope my idea was not wrong. So keep share this type of important information.

Reply
Gaydos link
12/3/2020 06:10:43

What was your ultimate solution?
Did you get yourself a new mattress, a new wife or did you just learned to live with it?

Reply
Homeattic link
3/5/2021 11:13:31

One of the best post on this topic thanks for such a good share of thoughts

Reply
Clic Aquí
4/2/2021 16:49:42

En éste sentido, existen clases de colchones como los de espuma y los de látex, no son demasiado recomendables para personas muy calurosas o que sudan con facilidad.
<a href="https://www.dormimundo.com.mx/" rel="nofollow ugc"></a></p>

Reply
Limb Protection Auckland link
4/5/2021 13:10:25

Your article is quite helpful! I have so many questions, and you have answered many. Thank you! Such a nice and superb article, we have been looking for this information about 4 ways to keep your mattress from creating waste. Great post…I have also found this resource Wooltec.co.nz useful and its related to what you are mentioning.

Reply
Riya link
10/20/2021 09:24:04

thanks for sharing the blog with an informative content. Kindly sharing more blogs with us. We are having same type of services.

Reply



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