Where Can I Donate a Mattress Near Me? Discover Where To Give Away Old Mattresses

Ways to Donate Your Mattress

In 2014, the Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act was signed into law in the state of California to establish a market-based system for recycling mattress materials by requiring mattress manufacturers to take responsibility for collecting and recycling used mattresses.  

It is important for you to know that there are mattress recycling efforts in every state in response to this legislation and despite the public being encouraged to buy eco-friendly mattresses, all efforts with that legislation are intended to reduce the detrimental impact mattress have on the landfills. Most mattress manufacturers and retailers will haul away your old mattress when delivering your new mattress however it may be up to you to ensure recycling efforts are made.

Please read on for some of the ways you can choose to donate or recycle your mattress responsibly. The first logical option would be to donate your gently used mattress to the community and the next choice would be to recycle the mattress materials to be repurposed into valuable consumable goods.

Will a Thrift Store Accept My Used Mattress?

Most local second-hand stores will not accept a used mattress especially if it is worn, soiled, or infested with bugs because the primary goal would be to resell the item. Unfortunately, there are several reasons mattresses are not accepted (size of the item, sanitation standards, and public health). It is always best to call your donation location ahead of your arrival with your mattress to find out if they will accept your donation or if they haul away rejected items for recycling.

Charitable Organizations Interested in Donations

You can contact local homeless shelters, crisis intervention centers, and churches to find out if mattresses are needed. Donation Town is an online directory of charities in the United States and Canada that offer free donation pickup services and the website is organized by your zip code.

National Furniture Bank Association (FBN)
A collection of furniture banks across North America that deliver used furniture to families who cannot afford to purchase furniture. By doing so, this organization “prevents tens of thousands of pounds of furniture from entering landfills each year”. Reach out to the FBN and become a member today.

Salvation Army
A global charitable organization that has lots of projects depending on the needs of the community. You can go on their website and schedule a time for one of their trucks to pick up your mattress for free.

Groups Interested in Recycled Goods

Craigslist 
A local or global advertisements website with various sections from jobs to items wanted or items for sale/donation. This website requires communication between buyer and seller. The interface recently came out with an ap.

FreeCycle
A nonprofit organization committed to promoting recycled goods in your own town at no cost and reducing use of landfills. There is also an option for personal gifting and lending between a small group of friends.

Facebook Marketplace & OfferUp
An app that functions as an online marketplace. This platform requires you to communicate directly with your customer to arrange pick up place and time. Collect reviews if you post items often which will bring more traffic to your page.

Nextdoor
An app designed to connect neighbors, support local businesses, share recommendations, read local news, and borrow or recycle items.

What Should I Do if I Can't Donate My Old Mattress?

Recycle Responsibly

If your mattress is not accepted for donation by local charitable organizations, you should be aware of your options for recycling in your community and Earth911 is a great way to discover local recycling options. Some states have new laws on mattress recycling however there are no bans on disposing of mattresses in the landfill. You should know that there are mattress recycling programs available however it may be to you to locate them.

According to the Mattress Recycling Council, more than three quarters of a mattress can be re-used and made into other products, hence reducing diverting resources required for local landfills. Steel, polyurethane foam, and wood are the most commonly recycled materials from a mattress. These materials can be re-used to produce lots of valuable items such as dental instruments, textiles, and mulch.

You may be able to coordinate a pick-up by the manufacturer of your new mattress or the retailer. You should discuss the option for pick-up while you are in-store or at time of purchase (whether online or over the phone) of your new mattress and you should ask for details on donation or recycling. Some mattress companies or retailers will haul away your old mattress for a small fee.

Buy Mattress is a program established by law by the Mattress Recycling Council in California and is designed to reduce waste in landfills by recycling material from mattresses by charging a small fee on all new mattress and box spring sales which makes it easier for consumers to recycle their mattresses by charging a small fee. The program has recycled more than 8 million mattresses since its’ inception in 2015. In fact, most mattresses that California residents are disposing of are eligible for the recycling program.

The Buy Mattress program collaborates with all stakeholders (retailers, manufacturers, local government, and waste management) to take responsibility for the impact mattress disposal has on the environment. Currently there are Buy Mattress programs in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The program is expanding quickly however if you do not live in one of those states, you should check your city’ website or Earth911 for mattress recycling options.  

If you cannot drop-off your mattress for recycling… You can consider junk haulers to recycle items for you. It is a good idea to ask for a receipt to prevent illegal dumping which will hold the company accountable in maintaining the highest standard. For example, LoadUp is a full-service junk removal company and they can recycle mattresses. 

Why should I care?

With the moto “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” in mind, please donate your used mattress to someone who needs it before considering recycling options. I hope you feel that contributing to the landfills is an environmental crisis everyone needs to take responsibility for and that your feel more informed about the donation and or recycling process.