MATTRESSES
HEALTH CARE CONTEXT
Health care facilities use an enormous number of mattresses. When there are no longer fit for patient use, they are often sent to landfill, where they can take over 100 years to decompose.
In 2011, Vancouver banned mattresses and boxsprings from landfills. The result was over 50,000 mattresses and boxsprings being brought to recycling centres, more than 1 million cubic feet in landfill savings, and the creation of 45 new jobs for residents of British Columbia.
How the mattress recycling process works
Taken from The Balance
Mattresses and box springs are created from a number of materials, including wood, metal, fabric and plastic, which can all be recycled once they are separated.
- Wood
- Fabric
- Felt
- Foam
- Cotton
- Plastic
Markets for recovered materials
Aside from receiving compensation for incoming mattresses, recyclers also hope to generate revenue from the reclaimed materials:
- Quilting and foam can be turned into carpet underlay
- Wood is recycled into biofuel or other recycled wood products
- Plastic is recycled by plastic recyclers
- Steel from the boxsprings is recycled into new metal products
- Cotton and felt can be recycled into new felt and insulation
Resources
Mattress Recycling (Western Canada)
City of Vancouver: How to Recycle Your Mattress
The Furniture Bank Association of North America
This is no place for a mattress – Industry taking lead to recycle
Reusing and Recycling Mattresses in Rural Communities
David Suzuki Foundation: Where to Recycle Mattresses
References
The Balance. Mattress Recycling Business Opportunities.