How to Dispose of an Old Mattress

Bulky items such as mattresses can become a headache to get rid of. People often wonder what to do with an old mattress. Thankfully, there are many avenues you can go down to make disposing of your mattress less stressful, and in this article, we will go through each method to help you decide which is best for you.

With an estimated 64.6 million mattresses in the UK (0.98 bedrooms per person, as of a 2011 census), millions of mattresses are disposed of per year and this comes at a great cost and effort.

Mattresses are such a problematic item to dispose of. Largely because of their weight, bulkiness and low reuse potential. They also have low-value materials inside that can actually be recovered.

You may be wondering, how long do mattresses last? And when should I get a new mattress? Mattresses have a rough lifespan of around 7 years and should be replaced when you start to notice the telltale signs of mattress ageing.

Selling Your Old Mattress

Many people’s first thought is to sell their old mattresses. The problem is that second-hand mattresses are not a very desired item and will generally only ever result in a sale if they are still in great condition. Websites like Gumtree, eBay, Preloved and Facebook Marketplace offer you a place to sell used items.

To have a good chance of actually selling a second-hand mattress, it will need to be free of infestations, rips, tears, holes, stains and odours.

If you're having trouble drumming up any interest you could offer your old mattress free of charge to those people who would want to collect it - giving you a stress-free method of getting rid of such a large item.

Donating Your Mattress to Charity

This method again requires that your mattress is in good saleable condition. A lot of charities will outline the requirements needed for them to accept your mattress.

The British Heart Foundation need all items in saleable condition. Any upholstered furniture is complete with a fire safety label (that’s including mattresses). This label can be found on mattresses and refers to the BS 7177, the safety standard for resistance to ignition of mattresses, divans and bed bases. And finally, they make sure you check the list of items they cannot take for legal, health or safety reasons.

Not all charities will accept mattresses though. The British Red Cross, for example, accept bed frames but not mattresses, so do be sure to check with whoever you plan to donate to that they do in fact accept good quality mattresses.

Recycling Your Old Mattress

Another efficient way of getting disposing of an old mattress is to recycle it. Many local recycling centres will accept mattresses. The only downside is that you will have to get the mattress there yourself. It’s good to do a little research in advance to ensure that your local tip does accept mattresses. You can find your nearest recycling centre using the gov.uk website.

You’ll need a car or van big enough to fit a mattress in order to take it to the recycling centre. You cannot take waste into recycling centres on foot. Some mattresses may prove harder than others to transport. For example, high count pocket spring mattresses will not fold as easily as memory foam mattresses. Once your mattress has been folded, it's a good idea to tie a rope around the mattress to keep it from springing open. For most people, recycling a mattress at the local tip will be a two-person job.

You can also request that your local council collects your mattress from outside your home, but this will incur a fee. Due to mattresses being bulky items the fee may be surprisingly expensive. And although local authorities will say that they will recycle waste where possible, it’s not guaranteed and your mattress may end up in a landfill.

Be sure to read over the terms and conditions your local council have specified. Many councils will charge a set amount up to a maximum number of bulky items. For example, a set price for 6 bulky items and below. So whether you have one item or six, the price will still be the same. Tying your mattress collection in with other bulky waste items will give you more bang for your buck. Alternatively, you can ask a neighbour if they also need bulky items removed, and you can split the cost with them.

Waste Collection Companies

An alternative (and often cheaper route) is to find a waste disposal company that specialises in bulky items. Typically these companies will be able to dispose of your old mattress at a cheaper rate than the council.

If you want your mattress recycled, you may have to pay a premium, whereas companies that don’t recycle your old waste may have cheaper rates.

Private companies can often provide an in-house collection service, meaning you won’t have to leave your items by the curb-side like with the council removal service. This is helpful for those who aren’t able to move heavy items themselves.