No, in most places in the United States, you cannot just put a mattress in the Dumpster. In some cases, it is illegal to throw away a mattress or even recycle it. This is because old mattresses contain body hair, sweat residue, dead skin cells, and, in addition, all the chemicals that are often used in mattresses to make them fire-proof or last longer.
A mattress is considered a bulky waste and cannot be treated like regular trash. Other bulky wastes include electronic appliances like washing machines or televisions, furniture, or any kind of equipment. You must find out the rules for disposing of a mattress from your local authorities to avoid getting into any kind of legal trouble or fines.
Disposing of a mattress improperly can have a direct impact on the environment, because of which these restrictions should be in place. Both spring and foam mattresses have components that could make them potentially hazardous to the environment.
A single mattress may not look like much, but it contains a lot of synthetic foam, plastic, and other chemicals. The International Solid Waste Association has claimed that about 12 million mattresses are disposed of yearly. That is why knowing about the correct methods of disposing of a mattress is paramount.
Why You Cannot Recycle a Mattress Yourself?
To avoid dealing with a bulky, old mattress, many people try to recycle it themselves. But that is not permissible in most states because recycling a mattress is unlike any other household product.
Hence, you cannot simply cut up a mattress and pull out the foam to stuff it into something else. An old foam mattress could have absorbed years of sweat and dead skin cells. There are hair follicles and residue of germs if anyone has ever peed or vomited on the mattress.
It is impossible to clean out a mattress at home using DIY methods if you are to disinfect it completely for recycling. Only authorized recycling centers can do that. In the same way, they also know what to do with the old and rusted springs of a box spring mattress.
Mattresses that are too old to salvage often end up in the landfill, but you cannot put your mattress in the Dumpster, assuming someone will take it there. It would be best to be careful about what you do with it because getting rid of it in other ways, like burning it, can also land you in trouble.
Why You Cannot Put a Mattress in the Dumpster?
As mentioned earlier, mattresses are considered bulky waste and cannot be put in a dumpster. Larger cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, or Boston have specific laws in place that do not permit citizens to use a dumpster for household waste. You need to hire disposal companies to dispose of them safely.
Moreover, bulky mattresses often do not fit into ordinary recycling trucks. The municipality hauls away bulky trash, and they often use third parties as contractors. Putting them in a dumpster can be dangerous because they have a high amount of formaldehyde, especially in cheaper mattresses.
These are carcinogens, and they can immediately burst into flames if they come in contact with an accidental stray flame, like a half-burnt cigarette casually tossed in the Dumpster. They are a huge fire hazard and would cause an immediate threat to life and property in the region. The flames would spread toxic fumes, causing severe discomfort to those around.
The chemicals could also inadvertently mix with the underground water supply. It could affect crops in the vicinity. In addition, the fabrics used in mattresses use dyes that may not be harmful themselves, but once the germs in the Dumpster break them down, they could release toxic gasses into the air. So tossing a mattress into the Dumpster is out of the question in the United States.
How to Safely Dispose Of Your Old Mattress?
Since you cannot just put a mattress into a dumpster, you should consider other, safer alternatives to dispose of your mattress. Here are some ways you can try out.
1. Contact your Authorities
If you are not sure at all about how you can dispose of your mattress, then you should consider contacting your local municipality. They are the best people to help you out.
They will tell you exactly what the state laws are, depending on the state you are residing in. If it is customary to take the mattress to a landfill, they will also tell you how to go about it.
2. Donate your Mattress
Donating your mattress is the best possible way to get rid of an old mattress, and although you may not need it, someone else could still use it for a few more years.
Many charitable organizations or the Salvation Army will accept it. Or, if your mattress is in particularly bad shape, you can contact an animal shelter that can still use it for abandoned animals.
Make sure you have cleaned the mattress as much as possible before donating, and anyone who accepts it will probably disinfect it once more at their end just to make it suitable for you. This way, you do not have to throw away your mattress for nothing.
3. Opt for Recycling
You can contact your local recycling facilities to check if they will pick up your mattress. Some recycling units will probably ask to check your mattress first to determine whether it can be recycled. If yes, they will most likely pick it up for a cost. Or, you could arrange to drop it off yourself.
In case they ask you for any information to determine whether the mattress can be recycled, be sure to provide them with accurate details. Or it could lead to problems in the recycling unit, and you could be charged for any damage.
4. Wait for a Heavy Trash Pick-Up
While you cannot put your mattress in a dumpster, you can wait for a heavy trash pick-up to come around. Or you contact a roll-off dumpster company instead. Third-party companies usually offer these services, but once you get their help, you do not have to worry about disposing of your mattress.
This is more so in the case of old Tempurpedic mattresses, which are quite heavy indeed. They will relieve you of your mattress, and you can get a new one.
5. Contact your Mattress Brand
If you are disposing of an old mattress, you will likely get a new one in its place. You can speak to the brand executive to check if they have any mattress removal services.
They may charge a fee, but they often take your old mattress off your hands. This is a service offered by some mattress companies as an added incentive for buyers to purchase a new mattress from them.
Can You Leave a Mattress Beside a Dumpster?
No, you cannot leave a mattress next to a dumpster. Some people feel they can evade the law by keeping the mattress beside a dumpster instead of putting it in, but that does not solve the problem in any way.
You never know who will try to use that mattress. A homeless person might try to use it but may fall sick due to exposed fiberglass or chemicals, especially if it is an inferior quality mattress. You should always contact the local authorities before disposing of it.
Can Old Mattresses be Recycled?
Some old mattresses may be recycled, but recycling companies only do so after ensuring they adhere to the state’s stringent laws. The mattress needs to be in a particular condition to be recycled.
Beyond that, it is unsalvageable. If the mattress meets the criteria, it is cut up and dismantled, and the foam, plastic, and springs are used to make other goods.
Conclusion
According to experts, one should change their mattresses once every eight years to ensure optimum sleep quality. After eight years, even the best mattresses tend to lose their elasticity, and they slowly start becoming lumpy in places.
The top cover also gives away in most cases, making the foam unclean. Hence, it would be best to consider how you will dispose of your old mattress as soon as you start thinking of getting a new one. Then you do not have to worry about dumping your mattress at the last moment, and you can have a more organized approach.
