When the time comes to get a new mattress, your old one will need to go. But where? As soon as it arrives, you might be tempted to take it straight down to your local landfill and forget it ever existed. But before you load up the car, here are a few things you should consider.
Did you know…?
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In 2016, worn-out mattresses made up approximately 215,000 tonnes of landfill waste in the UK (according to the Centre for Remanufacturing & Reuse)
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1 in 10 people in poverty don’t own a bed (BBC News, 2017)
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In the UK alone, around 10 million pieces of household rubbish (from beds and chairs to mattresses) end up in landfill every single year
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Of the household items sent to landfill, 3 million could be re-used or recycled (Furniture Donation Network)
How to donate your mattress?
Before binning your mattress, you should think about what condition it’s in. Even if it isn’t working for your sleep pattern, there could still be some use in it for others – as long as it’s clean and in good condition, it could make all the difference to someone else.
Certain charities accept old mattresses as donations, and it can be a great way to support them. By passing it onto them, you also know that your mattress will go to someone who needs it – because they make this useful item available for a reasonable price.
Just bear in mind that to donate your mattress, it must meet certain criteria or else the charity won’t accept it. Usually, as a minimum, you’ll need to make sure the fire label is clean, intact, and in generally good condition.
Here are a few charities that accept old mattresses here in the UK.
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British Heart Foundation – They can come and collect your mattress from you for free, and it will be sold in a second-hand store.
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Furniture Donation Network – Fill in a form online, send images of your mattress and arrange a time slot for them to collect it from you for free. This charity helps previously homeless people access furniture for their new accommodation.
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British Red Cross – Free collection is available in certain areas, and the charity resells pre-loved mattresses in its charity shops.
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Emmaus – There are 29 Emmaus hubs all over the UK, and free collection is available.
3 other easy ways to get rid of your mattress
1. List it on Freecycle
Freecycle is a non-profit organisation that aims to keep items that are still useful out of landfills. By listing your old mattress on their website, you can let people in your community know that it’s available.
You won’t get any money for it (it’s called Freecycle for a reason!), but when someone gets in touch with you and shows an interest, you can arrange for them to come and collect it for you.
2. Sell it on Gumtree
If it’s still in relatively good shape, then you could get some money towards a new one. There are lots of different options when it comes to selling online, and Gumtree is just one of them. It only takes a few minutes to set up an account and then you can list your mattress for free.
Take a few photos and write a description and people from your local areas will be able to view it. Just remember that your images must be a true and fair reflection of your mattress, and it’s highly recommended that your fire safety labels are clear and intact.
3. Bed Guru's bed removal services
If you need a hand getting rid of your old mattress and your old bed, Bed Guru can lend a helping hand. We offer bed and mattress removal services – all you need to do is select the correct option at the checkout. It’s available to customers who are buying a bed and mattress as a combination, it doesn’t include the dismantling of the bed, however.
Next time, choose your mattress carefully…
When the time comes for you to buy a new mattress, take a moment to consider the environment. Why not go green and select a natural mattress?