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Last Updated December 29, 2023
When you're looking for a new mattress, you probably wonder what to do with the old one. The worst course of action for mattress disposal is to throw it away because thrown mattresses sit in landfills and pollute the environment. You can either donate your mattress or recycle it, depending on its condition. Here is all you need to know about mattress donation and how to do it in the most eco-friendly way.
Key Takeaways:
We have all heard about books and clothes donations, but what about mattress donations? Is that a real thing? The skepticism to donate a mattress arises from a lack of awareness about the same. The truth is, yes, you can donate your mattress, and we are here to educate you about it. However, you need to ensure that your mattress's condition is suitable for donations. So the question arises: can ‘your’ mattress be donated?
When donating your old mattress, keep in mind that it will be used by someone and needs to be in a good condition. The following pointers will help you know if your mattress is in a condition to be donated.
The same is the case with the box spring; if you want to donate it, it should be in a suitable condition. Make sure that the fabric cover is not torn and the frame is not broken. If so, it’s better to recycle the item.
Now that you have established that your mattress is in a good enough condition to be donated, the main question arises: where to donate it?
You have multiple mattress donation options when it comes to used mattresses; you can give to large charitable organizations, thrift stores, give it away on online marketplaces, etc. Keep reading to know more about these mattress donation options. Most donation centers accept gently used mattresses.
One of the ways to donate is to give them out to charitable organizations. Large charitable organization accepts mattress donations sell them in their thrift store at low prices or give them out to low income families.
Goodwill accept mattresses and sells old mattresses at their thrift store. They use the profits earned from selling used mattresses to provide education and training for people facing employment difficulties.
Habitat for Humanity is known for providing affordable homes for families. In addition, they have thrift stores called ReStore. Head to habitat for humanity site to check out the nearest ReStore and donate your gently used mattress.
The Salvation Army provides free mattress to the victims of domestic abuse, disasters, and others in need. So your donated mattresses will be used by the ones who actually need them. In most cases, salvation army also offer a free mattress pickup service.
Most churches have housing programs and shelters. Therefore, they also accept mattress donations. You can check with your nearest church regarding the same and drop your old mattresses there.
Look out for local charities if you can’t reach out to any of the organizations mentioned above. They mostly accept mattresses that are in usable conditions.
In addition, resources like Donation Town and Furniture Bank Network have online database that can help you locate charities that accept unwanted household items, including mattresses and furniture.
You can also directly donate your old bed at any homeless shelters, where you know it would be put to good use. With this, you won't just be following an environment friendly approach to reuse a mattress but also helping a person in need.
Just like Goodwill and Salvation Army, there might be other small local thrift stores around you that may accept mattress donations. You can contact them and inquire about it. If the donation is made to a nearer place, it will save you the time and cost you may otherwise have to bear when dropping off the mattress at a far-off location.
Social media might be your best call if you want to give your mattress directly to someone in need without involving an organization. Just create a post including a picture and dimensions of the mattress and put it up for a giveaway. Then, ask your friends and family to share it and wait for someone in need to approach you.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of looking for organizations who would accept your donations or your mattress is in great condition, that it wouldn’t hurt to sell it at a low price.
You can simply list your mattress on online marketplaces like the Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, LetGo, OfferUp, or any other marketplace you know. Just make sure you use a verified and reputable platform to avoid scams.
Is your mattress not suitable enough to be passed on for reuse? Well, don’t throw it just yet. There are various mattress recycling centers that can help you give your old mattress an altogether new life. Some of them also offer pickup services, so make sure to ask them about the same, so you don't have to go through the efforts to drop it off to the recycling center.
Here are a few mattress recycling centers/mattress recycling programs:
Bye-Bye Mattress has taken up a mission to reduce the piling up of mattresses. They will help in mattress recycling in an eco-friendly way. They charge a recycling fee for the same, which is used to keep the recycling program going. If you want to recycle with their help, head to their site and look for the branch nearest to you.
Some cities in the country now have their own recycling programs. San Diego, for instance, has a recycling program that also accepts mattresses. Look up if your city has any such program; if it does, then how does it work, and do they accept mattress?
Earth 911 has an extensive database of recycling facilities that accept old mattress. All you need to do is visit their site and enter your pin code. It will show you a comprehensive list of all the mattress recycling services around you.
If you are a creative person who likes to DIY things, you might enjoy doing this. You can take apart different parts of your mattress and upcycle them. However, make sure your mattress is fiberglass-free before taking it apart, or you might end up with irritated skin. You can use the foam for cushions, pet beds, and soft toys. Steel springs from the mattress can be sold to recyclers as scrap metal to make a few bucks.
When it comes to mattresses, there are numerous ways to reuse, recycle or repurpose them. So instead of dumping them in landfills and polluting land, please use the information gained through this article to save the environment from some load.
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Disclaimer: What is said in this article has been referenced from multiple sources and is intended only for educational and informational purposes. Please note that no content in this article is a substitute for professional advice from a qualified doctor or healthcare provider. Always consult an experienced doctor with any concerns you may have regarding a health condition or treatment, and never disregard any medical suggestions or delay in seeking treatment because of something you read here.
