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Last year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts banned the disposal of a variety of materials in ‘trash,’ specifically including mattresses, and requiring a fee-based disposal service that may, in some cases, be encouraging illegal mattress disposal.
A new study shared by the Mattress Recycling Council was conducted to estimate the average time between mattress manufacture and consumer disposal. The average age for all units was 13.9 years. Foundations averaged 15.1 years and innerspring and all-foam mattresses averaged 13.2 years. The results of this study do not necessarily represent the useful life of mattresses and foundations as several factors besides durability can influence a consumer’s decision to discard a mattress.
And, when it's challenging to recycle them, they can end up in unexpected places -- like the trove of mattresses disposed of on the edge of Fall River several months ago.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) More than 600,000 mattresses and box springs are discarded annually in Massachusetts with an estimated 75 percent of the material they contain being potentially suitable for recycling.
While the state does offer some options for municipalities trying to collect and dispose of mattresses, it is not a comprehensive program and costs and availability to consumers vary considerably.
In Franklin, there is a $10 fee to dispose of a mattress at the Recycle Center (an annual permit sticker is also required). However, broken/soiled or foam mattresses will not be accepted. And you have to get there during the limited operating hours.
The Mattress Recycling Council sponsors a comprehensive program called Bye Bye Mattress, which has been adopted by California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island that makes it all much easier.
In the Ocean State, Bye Bye Mattress is accessible throughout Rhode Island, offering no-cost opportunities for residents and businesses to discard their used mattresses. Mattresses are collected through a variety of channels. Residents in 37 of 39 Rhode Island municipalities can drop off their mattresses at their local transfer station, public works yard or collection event. There are also two public drop-off locations available to all state residents. Some municipal curbside pickup programs divert mattresses to the program’s recyclers too. In addition, 220 other public and private entities across Rhode Island participate in the program including mattress retailers, hotels, universities, junk haulers and apartment complexes.
MRC said it has implemented extensive outreach to educate consumers about mattress recycling through its Bye Bye Mattress brand, which features a unique logo and consumer-facing website, ByeByeMattress.com. More than 2.5 million visitors have visited the website, which offers residents an easy locator tool to find their nearest mattress recycling location or event.
According to Mattress Recycling Council spokesperson, Amanda Wall, their parent organization (International Sleep Products Association) has been working with Massachusetts on a bill that would bring a similar program to the Bay State.
A number of pieces of legislation are floating around Beacon Hill at present, including Bill H 881, filed earlier this year by Representative Philips of Sharon, “a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 881) of Edward R. Philips and others for legislation to establish a mattress recycling program.” The measure has been referred to Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and may or may not advance this session. But both industry and the legislature now appear to at least be considering the problem and a potential solution.
