Are States Making Mattresses Eco-Friendly?
Workers dismantling a mattress.
Consumers in several states are pitching in to make the mattress industry more environmentally sustainable.
States like California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Rhode Island have imposed a flat fee on every mattress or box spring purchased, whether online or in-store. These fees help fund state recycling programs that prevent used mattresses from ending up in landfills, aligning with a broader push for a circular economy in everyday products.
Americans discard millions of mattresses each year, but over 75% of a mattress is recyclable.
Oregon recently introduced a recycling fee, while California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island have increased their fees. Efforts are also underway in Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and Virginia to implement similar programs.
Recycling options are limited but expanding, with a growing number of companies nationwide focusing on mattress recycling.
State efforts reflect the extended producer responsibility concept, where producers take responsibility for managing their products after they’re no longer in use.
State programs are funded through consumer fees, with retailers passing these fees on to the Mattress Recycling Council.
The goal is to create a sustainable recycling system while making it easier for consumers to recycle old mattresses.
FAQs:
– How are states incentivizing mattress recycling?
– What percentage of a mattress is recyclable?
– Which states have implemented mattress recycling programs?
– How do extended producer responsibility laws work?
– What is the role of the Mattress Recycling Council in these programs?