Did you just get a new mattress and you now have to get rid of the one you were using before? If you’re trying to do that in a way that is beneficial to the environment and society, you should consider mattress donation. In this in-depth guide, we will tell you all you need to know about mattress donation so that the process can be a breeze for you.
Mattress Donation: What It’s All About and Why It’s Important
Each day in America, more than 50,000 mattresses get discarded, and the majority of these mattresses end up in landfills. A single mattress takes up approximately 40-cubic feet of valuable space which could be dedicated to other materials with more priority and less area. This is concrete proof that mattress disposal is a major environmental problem.
You’ve most likely heard about book and cloth donation – there are many guides on those topics almost everywhere you look. However, it’s relatively rare to hear about mattress donation or find a guide on the topic if you weren’t specifically looking for it. Some people can be skeptical about mattress donations and that might stem from a lack of knowledge about the donation process or what happens to the mattresses after donation.
Mattress donation requires you to donate your old mattress to charity organizations. You do not have to do this yourself because there are mattress donation programs that will do it for you. Keep in mind that your mattress has to be in good condition to be accepted, so check for stains, bugs, holes, and tears that might disqualify your mattress from donation programs.
If you cannot donate your mattress (if it’s in poor condition, for example), you should consider recycling. More than 75% of mattresses can be recycled, yielding millions of pounds of useful material, considering the rate at which mattresses are being discarded. Recycling centers disassemble your mattress, separate its different layers, and then organize the materials by type.
The materials can then be used to make other useful stuff or it can be used as scrap material for other production processes. The metal in spring mattresses is extracted and sent to metal recyclers while memory foam and other soft materials are reused in the production of oil filters, carpets, and other textile applications. Surely, this is another eco-friendly way to get rid of your mattress.
Is Your Mattress Good Enough for Donation?
As we said before, not all mattresses can be donated. So, how do you know if your mattress is good enough to be donated? There are some key things to check and we’ll walk you through them in this section.
A little wear from normal usage is acceptable, but a mattress can be rejected if there are massive stains, tears, bugs, and other defects that might render it unusable. The following is a checklist of things to look out for in a mattress that you’re planning to donate. It also contains tips to get rid of some defects to improve your mattress’ chance of acceptance.
- Make sure that your mattress is not in a bad condition – there should be no tears, rips or holes in the mattress. Slight defects can be accepted, as long as it doesn’t disfigure the mattress or make it unusable. The mattress you will be given to an individual or a family, so it should be in a usable condition.
- The mattress should not be infected or pest-ridden. Mold and bed bugs are particularly prominent infections to check for. Consider recycling if your mattress is too pest-ridden or infected.
- Get rid of stains in your mattress before donating. Follow our DIY guide on how to clean your mattress effectively.
- Your mattress should not have structural problems like bent or broken coils. A mattress that is bunching or sagging excessively will not make the cut.
- Ensure that your mattress is free from foul odors. If your mattress has an odor, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the mattress and leave it for a few hours. Finally, vacuum the mattress well to remove all traces of baking soda and your mattress is ready for donation. For more stubborn odors, check out our odor removal guide.
If your mattress checks all the boxes, you can go ahead with donation. However, if your mattress has one or two defects that make it impossible to donate, you should consider recycling. This converts your mattress into other useful materials and keeps landfills spacious.
When is it Time to Donate Your Mattress?
The easiest way to know when it’s time for mattress donation is when you get a new mattress and you have to dispose of the old one. However, you might want to change your mattress for other reasons. Of course, you should donate or recycle your old mattress when you do that.
The following are some reasons you might want to consider changing your current mattress. If you’re getting a new mattress, it should be from a reputable brand like egohome.
- Your sleeping styles have changed and your current bed is no longer supporting you
- You’ve had your current mattress for more than ten years, and/or you think it is the right time for a change. Our quality egohome latex mattresses typically last for up to 12 years and our innerspring mattresses last for 8 years and above. Therefore, the longevity of your mattress will be determined by the materials and how well you maintain it.
- You’ve shifted from sleeping alone to sleeping alone to sleeping with a partner, and you require a mattress of the proper size.
- You might be dealing with a sudden injury or chronic pain that makes it necessary to change your mattress
We all eventually need to get a new mattress, whether we are changing our bed size or mattress type. With just a little change, your old mattress can find a new home if you donate it, or it can be repurposed if you decide to recycle it. Mattress donation is a practical, financial, and eco-friendly way to get rid of your old mattress.
With a little creativity and research, you can give your old mattress a second life. So, let’s dive into the various places and ways to donate your old mattress so that it can be put to good use.
Where Can You Donate Mattresses?
Now that you’ve decided to donate your mattress, the next question is: where can I donate my mattress? Well, we know just the right places and we have curated a list of the best mattress donation programs for you. We also included the links to each website in their respective sections.
1. Furniture Bank
Furniture Bank Network is a network of non-profit and charitable organizations that help vulnerable families and individuals in their search for fairly used furniture, including mattresses, at little or no cost. You can visit their website and find an affiliated organization for mattress donation near you. If there are no affiliated organizations near you, you can request for mattress donation pick up.
2. Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that is best known for building homes for low-income families, but they also manage donation centers called ReStores. ReStore accepts donations of both new and gently used products, mattresses included. You can visit their website and use their search tool to find and reach out to a ReStore near you.
Many ReStore centers offer free product pickup services if you cannot drop off the mattress yourself. Contact them ahead to find out donation hours, which can differ from center to center.
3. Donation Town
Donation Town is a very useful resource that provides a national web-based directory of charities that accept donations of various products such as mattresses. Their website offers a mattress donation option and you can use their search tool to find a charity near you. Sometimes, they can help you pick up your mattress, depending on your location.
4. Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are not just the places to donate your fairly used clothing, some thrift stores will accept your old mattresses and resell them at low prices to those who need them. Goodwill and The Salvation Army mattress donation programs are the most popular. You can also donate to a local charity’s thrift store if you have one.
Keep in mind that not all thrift stores accept mattress and bedding donations. Goodwill stores in New Jersey and New York do not accept mattress donations. So, call ahead before you haul your mattress to any thrift store.
5. Homeless Shelters and Women’s Shelters
These organizations are always looking for mattresses to use, no matter how old they are. These places will put your mattresses to good use, providing a place to sleep for someone in need. This national women shelter directory will show you a good shelter to donate your mattress near you.
6. Online Marketplaces
These are very popular places for people to sell stuff they do not need at very cheap prices. These platforms are particularly useful if there are no charitable organizations near you to donate to. You can list your mattress for a very cheap price – some platforms, like Facebook Marketplace, even allow you to list a product for free.
These are some popular online marketplaces for mattress donations:
How to Recycle Your Old Mattress
If your mattress is too damaged to be donated to charities, do not despair. You can get it to recycling centers that will repurpose your mattress or extract the materials in it to make other things. Here are some ways for you to recycle your old mattress:
1. City Recycling Programs
These programs do not focus only on mattress recycling, but many offer mattress recycling programs among other things. Many cities in the U.S., like San Diego, offer mattress recycling programs which can easily be found by a quick web search.
2. Earth 911
Earth 911 manages a web-based database with over 100,00 mattress recycling facilities. Their website allows you to find locations near you. If you’re lucky, you might find a facility that offers to pick up the mattress for you.
3. Mattress Disposal
Mattress Disposal programs are quite well spread in the U.S. At a nominal fee, they pick up old mattresses and beddings and get rid of them in the eco-friendliest and most convenient way. Mattress Disposal offers one of the most effective ways for you to recycle your old mattress.
4. Bye-Bye Mattress
Bye-Bye Mattress was created by the International Sleep Products Association and they will help you to dispose of your mattress in an eco-friendly way. They charge a recycling fee, which is used to support recycling programs like this. This program primarily operates in California, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, but they have a few locations in some other states.
5. Recycle at Home
If you like DIY, this might be the best recycling route for you. You can take apart different parts of your mattress and upcycle them. The foam from your mattress can be used for pillows, cushions, and fluffy toys. The spring in innerspring mattresses can be sold as scrap metals to make a few bucks.
Getting a New Mattress
If your current mattress is too old or you cannot use it anymore for any reason and you need a new one, it should be comfortable, durable, and cost-effective. Egohome offers various lines of mattresses that satisfy all these criteria and more. Furthermore, Egohome mattresses are built with recycling in mind so that they can easily be taken apart and repurposed when the need arises. We also offer high-quality bed frames and mattress protectors to make your mattress last longer with little effort.
Conclusion
Mattresses can be recycled or donated, therefore it is important to remember not to let them pile up in landfills and increase the burden on Mother Earth. Instead, choose any of the mentioned ways so that you can help someone, the planet, and yourself. Surely, donating or recycling your mattress leads to a win for everybody!
