January 12, 2025
Over 15 to 20 million mattresses are being thrown away each year in the United States of America—coming from both commercial and residential properties. Each mattress also occupies approximately 40 cubic feet of landfill space. This continues to be a widespread issue in the country as improper mattress recycling does significant environmental impact such as: Taking up a lot of space in landfills. Mattresses are very bulky, large items that decompose very slowly (on average, a traditional spring mattress can take around 80 to 100 years) and occupy a large space for many years. Contributes to environmental pollution. As mattresses decompose, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), flame retardants, and heavy metals—which are harmful chemicals and gases. These can contaminate groundwater and soil and pose risks to ecosystems and ultimately, human health. Greenhouse gas. When foam and fabric decompose, they produce methane that contributes to global warming. Wasting resources and possibly recycled materials. Many valuable materials make up a mattress such as mental springs, wood, steel, foam, and even the bed frame. Upon recycling, these mattress components are dismantled, made into new products, or put to better use instead of being disposed of and wasted. Illegal dumping. When mattresses are dumped in unauthorized areas, their bulk adds to landfills or remains exposed in open spaces, contributing to long-term environmental challenges.