Read our blog post on Easy And Green Ways To Get Rid Of Your Old Mattress from AAA Furniture , the online sleep specialists.
When the time comes to replace your mattress, you must dispose of your old one. But where? You might be tempted to take it straight down to your local landfill as soon as it arrives and forget it ever existed. But before you pack the car, here are a few things to think about.
Did you know….?
- In the United Kingdom, worn-out mattresses accounted for approximately 215,000 tonnes of landfill waste in 2016. (according to the Centre for Remanufacturing & Reuse)
- One out of every ten poor people does not own a bed (BBC News, 2017)
- Every year, approximately 10 million pieces of household waste (ranging from beds and chairs to mattresses) end up in landfill in the United Kingdom alone.
- 3 million of the household items discarded could be reused or recycled (Furniture Donation Network)
Make a donation
Before you throw away your mattress, consider its current condition. Even if it isn’t working for your sleep pattern, it may still be useful to others – as long as it’s clean and in good condition, it may make all the difference to someone else.
Certain charities accept donations of old mattresses, and it can be a great way to help them. You also know that by passing it on to them, your mattress will go to someone in need, because they make this useful item available at a very reasonable price.
Just keep in mind that your mattress must meet certain criteria in order to be accepted by the charity. Typically, you’ll need to ensure that the fire label is clean, intact, and in overall good condition.
Here are a few charities in the UK that accept used mattresses.
- British Heart Foundation – They will come and collect your mattress for free and sell it in a second-hand store.
- Furniture Donation Network – Fill out a form online, send images of your mattress, and set up a time for them to pick it up for free. This organisation assists previously homeless people in obtaining furniture for their new home.
- British Red Cross – In some areas, free collection is available, and the charity resells used mattresses in its charity shops.
- Emmaus – There are 29 Emmaus hubs across the UK, with free collection.
Place it on Freecycle.
Freecycle is a non-profit organisation that works to keep usable items out of landfills. You can let people in your community know that your old mattress is available by listing it on their website. You will not be paid for it (it is called Freecycle for a reason! ), but if someone contacts you and expresses an interest, you can arrange for them to come and collect it for you.
It can be sold on Gumtree.
If it’s still in good condition, you might be able to get some money towards a new one. When it comes to selling online, there are numerous options, and Gumtree is just one of them. It takes only a few minutes to create an account, after which you can list your mattress for free. People in your area will be able to view it if you take a few photos and write a description. Just keep in mind that your images must be a true and fair representation of your mattress, and it is strongly advised that your fire safety labels are clear and intact.
Bed removal services provided by Bed Guru
If you need assistance getting rid of your old mattress and bed, Bed Guru can help. We provide bed and mattress removal services; simply select the appropriate option at the checkout. It is available to customers who purchase a bed and mattress together; however, it does not include bed dismantling.
Next time, choose your mattress with care…
When it comes time to buy a new mattress, take a moment to think about the environment. Why not go natural and choose a natural mattress? Order from AAA Furniture.