Many components of a mattress can be recycled. According to the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council (ABSC), approximately 1.8 million mattresses are disposed of each year with around 740,000 (approximately 22,000 tonnes) ending up in landfill.
Mattress recycling
Components of a mattress such as timber steel and polyurethane (PU) foam can be recycled.
Due to the size and recycling process, mattresses cannot be recycled through household/kerbside recycling and require specific programs and initiatives to seperate the components for recycling.
Where do you recycle mattresses?
Mattresses can be typically dropped off or picked at multiple ASBC approved recyclers including the below listed by the states they operate in:
NSW, WA, ACT and VIC: Soft Landing Mattress Recycling, a social enterprise and creates jobs for local communities. You can go onto their website to find a drop off location or book in a pickup.
SA: Bounce Back Mattress Recycling recycles mattresses from councils, businesses and households around SA. They are available for drop off or can provide collection services within the Adelaide metropolitan area.
QLD and Northern NSW:
CDS Recycling provide shredding services to councils, commercial operations, retailers and residential customers. They are available for drop off.
Alternatively, you can look for other approved recyclers on the ASBC website.
Note: fees may apply.
How are mattresses recycled?
There are two common ways mattresses are recycled, depending on the facility, and also the state of the mattress.
Manual dismantling:
Mattresses that are clean enough and do not pose a work health and safety risk are manually dismantled to separate out the materials that can be recycled such as timber, steel and Polyurethane (PU) foam. Those materials are then sent to be recycled.
Mechanical shredding:
Mattresses that are contaminated or sodden and should not be physically dismantled due to mould spores and other risk to handlers are shredded. Shredding allows for steel to be recovered from those mattresses for recycling and reduces the volume going to landfill.
Why should I recycle my mattress?
Sending mattresses to landfill can have a negative impact on the environment and human health. These bulky items take up significant space, can get entangled in landfill machinery, pose fire risks, and contain harmful chemicals like flame retardants (e.g. PFAS). Recycling mattresses can also help reduce waste handling and landfill costs, while extending the lifespan of the recycled materials.
Donating is better than recycling
If your mattress is in good condition still, consider donating it before recycling or disposing it. Not only will you be helping individuals in need, but this lessens the environmental impact of mattress disposal.
You can also list your items on online marketplaces for free pickup to directly help individuals in the community near you. However, please ensure you take safety precautions when utilising online marketplaces.
Before donating, it is your responsibility to make sure the mattress is still in good shape and meets the individual or organisation’s donation standards.