fbpx
Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

5 Reasons You Should Get a Recycled Mattress

a profile image of TSA author Alex

Written By Alex Petrović

Certified Sleep Consultant

Featured image for 5 Reasons You Should Get a Recycled Mattress

1 April 2024 4 min read

These days, more and more people are becoming environmentally conscious. And if you've already upgraded to paper straws and paper bags, getting a recycled mattress should be next on your reusable bucket list.

When asked in 2021, 80% of UK citizens stated they were worried about global warming. And seeing how drastically the weather has been changing, we're inclined to agree with those concerns. So, how can you help?

Well, recycling is your best bet – with each individual saving up to 904 kg of CO2 when recycling correctly! But if you want to fight the good fight, we believe factoring in your mattress is also very important. This is because, as you'll soon see, getting a recycled mattress is a lot more beneficial than you might think.

Reason 1: it saves space in landfills

An image of different items that can end up in a landfill

It has been estimated that in 2017 UK citizens have thrown away a whopping 7 million mattresses. And according to the National Bed Federation, only 19% were recycled! That means that over 5.8 million mattresses ended up in a landfill just that year.

Now try to actually picture what 5.6 million old mattresses look like. Here's a hint – 600 000 when stacked atop each other is 100 times taller than Ben Nevis.

And keeping landfills under control is essential if you want to be environmentally friendly. After all, once a landfill is full, either it expands or people start illegally dumping their garbage where they're not supposed to.

Reason 2: fewer dangerous chemicals in the air

An image of a person wearing a mask to protect themselves from dangerous chemicals

Although mattress manufacturers have started integrating biodegradable materials into their products, most mattresses can still be rather harmful to the environment. After all, they can stick around for decades (even up to a century).

And if that wasn't bad enough, plenty of chemicals are also released over the years. Pocket spring mattresses become packed with corroded metal, foam mattresses start decomposing and releasing toxic sludge, and hybrid mattresses do both!

Before you know it, your old mattress ends up in water systems, in the soil, and in the air. So, you can see why mattress recycling helps nature out quite a bit.

Reason 3: it's less wasteful

An image of a trashbag filled with waste

High-quality mattresses can be very expensive and they often sport sought-after materials such as Tencel or down. Even the springs can be reused in so many ways! But if you just dump your old mattress and then get a new one, all of those materials are likely going to waste.

And this is quite a shame, as quite a few parts of the mattress can be used to make new products. For example:

Not to mention that certain manufacturers, like Simba, also use recycled materials in order to create parts of their mattresses – thus cutting down on the amount of foam or padding needed. So, the mattress recycling process saves materials on multiple fronts.

Reason 4: you're supporting a good business

An image of two women in orange sweaters fist-bumping and supporting each other

Although we can't know whether all aspects of a certain business are moral, we still think it's important to support businesses that are at least trying to fight the good fight. Panda Hybrid mattress is a sustainable product and this is one of the best examples for business that deserve the support. After all, these businesses usually support green initiatives and often time help out the community as well.

Be it through a mattress disposal service where the old mattress is then recycled or by donating said mattress to charity, these businesses can do some good. And if you're already planning on throwing your old mattress away and don't know how to recycle mattresses yourself, this is the best thing you can do.

So, we'd like to shout out a few bedding manufacturers that seem to be doing good work. However, do note that this is not a complete list:

And there are many other great initiatives out there. Companies like Sleepeezee donate to the Children's Hospital Charity, Aeyla gives to the Young Minds Charity and protects the rainforests, and so on.

Reason 5: you're still getting a good mattress

An image of a bunch of people giving a thumbs up

So far we've focused a lot on why you should recycle your old mattress and/or get a recycled mattress in order to save the environment. However, we want to be perfectly clear, your new mattress is still going to be amazing.

This is because brands that offer replacing mattresses usually also do their best to make the recycled mattress as good as their standard model. In other words, you're likely getting both the best mattress UK has to offer, and helping the environment! So, we're just going to shout out a few of our favourite mattresses that utilise recycled components:

How to recycle your mattress?

By this point, maybe we've convinced you to opt for a recycled mattress. However, that still begs the question “how to recycle your old mattress?”. Well, there are a few ways you can go about doing this.

Take The Mattress To A Recycling Centre

If you have a van or any other vehicle big enough to fit a mattress, you can simply take it to a recycling centre by yourself. Just Google the nearest recycling centre, strap the old mattress in and go for a drive. However, we do recommend also doing a bit of research on the centre, as there can always be bad actors – even when it comes to recycling.

Contact Your City Council

An image of a footprint made up of green leaves

The city council can also help you get rid of your old mattress, although there are two things you should keep in mind. Number one, there might be a fee depending on the city – while Liverpool City Council offers free waste pick-up, a different local council might charge 10 pounds or more.

Secondly, if you want to be a true mattress recycler, do a bit of research. We know we're being repetitive with this, but it's essential that you know your mattress won't just end up in a landfill.

Do It Through The Mattress Company

Many mattress manufacturers offer mattress removal and recycling. From individual efforts to partnering up with the Furniture Recycling Group, you can usually make sure the mattress is recycled and only pay a small fee.

As you can see, there are a fair amount of options. And if you'd like to know about the process of mattress disposal in-depth, we recommend reading our article on that topic!

How often should I change my mattress?

Now that you know why you should get a recycled mattress, and that you should recycle your old mattress, the only question left to answer is “when do I need a new mattress?“. After all, the only thing better than recycling is sticking to a product you already have.

That being said, answering this question is a bit tricky, as it really depends on who you ask. For example, The Sleep Council states you should do it every 7-8 years. But if you ask the average Joe, they'd probably say they do it once every fifteen years.

And while we can't vouch for Joe's qualifications, not all mattresses succumb to wear and tear at equal speeds. So, we suggest reading our full guide on when you need a new mattress and making the decision accordingly. But at least now you know that a recycled mattress is a completely valid option!

Spread the word

References & resources

Related products:

Recommended reading:

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

About the author

Alex Petrović
Sleep Consultant
A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!
Related Posts

Best of our Blog

sugar-before-bed-FI
03 June 2024

Eating Sugar Before Bed

Low fibre, high saturated fat and high sugar intake all play a part in poor sleep and having less deep sleep. Eating too much close to your ...
Featured image for how to clean a mattress
01 April 2024

How to Clean a Mattress Easily and Effectively

Regardless of how much we love our pets, there's no denying the fact that having a dog or cat in the same bed as you leads to a quicker...
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…
@thesleepadvisors
'The Luxe Cooling Mattress' by @emmasleepuk  is award-winning!

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Mattress for Side Sleepers'🏆

Click the link in the bio for more 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #emmasleepuk  #mattressreviews
'Award Winning Softness' by @hypniauk 

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Soft Mattress'🏆

Click the link in bio to read the full review 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #hypnia #mattressreviews

#
The Sleep Advisors cover all the benefits of Panda Products 🐼🐼

Click the link in the bio for more🔗

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareelsdaily #PandaMattress #thesleepadvisorsuk
The awards continue! @silentnightbeds 'Just Breathe Eco Comfort' receives one today 🥳

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Pocket Sprung Mattress'🏆

#thesleepadvisors #silentnightbeds #thesleepadvisors #comfortmattress
Details are key for TheSleepAdvisors... especially for those close-ups 👁

We look at every nook and cranky to capture every detail when reviewing mattress and bedding🎥

For our Latest reviews head over to our website via the link in the bio 🔗

#thesleepadvisors #mattressreview #thesleepadvisorsuk
If you want Luxury check out @nectarsleep Premier Hybrid Mattress!😎

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Luxury Mattress'🏆

Click the link in bio to read the full review 📖🥸

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #nectarsleep #mattressreviews
We know how hard it is to find the best mattress online!🧐

Don't worry, The Sleep Advisors are here to solve your problem and it has never been easier to compare mattresses thanks to our Mattress Comparison Tool!

Click the Link in our bio to find the mattress brand that suits your individual needs 🤩
For all your bedding needs, TheSleepAdvisors have you covered! 😁

From Price to Quality, we look at all aspects to enable you to make the best purchase for your needs.

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #BeddingEssentials #TheSleepAdvisors
Sent an embarrassing text? Just say you were asleep 😆

Turns out, our brains can get so wired even while catching Z's that we end up sending messages without even waking up! 

 #funfacts #sleepadvisors #TheSleepAdvisors  #DidYouKnow #DidYouKnowThis
Mattress Toppers are key! 🔑  They can bring your mattress to life. Want to learn more? 

The Sleep Advisors have got you covered!😎

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareelsdaily #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #reelsofinstagram #MATTRESSTOPPERS
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.