You can expect a new mattress to last between 7 and 10 years. Once it starts to sag or feel uncomfortable, it’s time to get rid of your old mattress and there are several good ways to do so in the UK. The four most popular methods of mattress disposal are: having it collected from your home; recycling it; selling it or donating your old mattress to charity.
1. Have your mattress collected from home
This is by far the most convenient method, but there are some important points to consider.
Some councils offer a mattress collection service; you can find out whether your local council does so, and how much they charge, via https://www.gov.uk/recycling-collections. Not all councils offer this service, though, and many mattresses collected by the council for disposal end up in landfill sites, as not all councils are able to recycle old mattresses.
Alternatively, we offer a UK-wide mattress collection and recycling service: every part of your old mattress (including springs and stuffing) can be recycled to be reused in all sorts of products, from home insulation to car seats.
We can provide this service whether or not you are buying a new mattress from us:
- if you’re buying a new mattress from us, let us take your old one away for recycling;
- if you have an old mattress that you’re not replacing with a new one, we can take it away from anywhere in the UK and ensure that it doesn’t end up in landfill.
2. Recycle your mattress
Recycling your old mattress is a responsible means of mattress disposal. You can do this via our collection service: we will ensure that your mattress is broken down properly and used in all sorts of new ways.
You can also recycle your mattress yourself via a recycling centre.
Some council recycling centres are able to accept mattresses, but check on their website beforehand to avoid a wasted journey. Unfortunately, many council tips will only accept them as general waste to be added to landfill.
Once you’ve found a recycling centre that will accept it, you’ll need to ensure that you have a way of safely transporting your mattress to the centre (or your council might be able to collect it from your home - see above): this may mean you’ll need to hire a van or tie it safely and securely to the roof of your car.
3. Sell your mattress
If your mattress is in good condition (i.e. it still holds its shape and there are no stains) you may be able to dispose of it by selling it via the usual online selling platforms (eBay, Shpock, Preloved and Gumtree, for example). Be honest about its condition and stipulate how it will reach the buyer - will you deliver locally, will the buyer need to collect, or can you arrange a courier?
Check other sellers’ prices for similar mattresses (pocket sprung mattresses may sell for less than memory foam ones, for example) and price accordingly. As a rule of thumb, mattresses tend to sell for around 20-30% of their original price.
4. Donate your mattress to charity
Good quality mattresses are often needed by charities, making this a really good means of disposal. If you have a local charity that you are keen to support, phone or email them to ask whether they accept donations of mattresses and, if so, whether they are able to collect yours from home. Alternatively, search online for local or national charities that will accept donations of good quality mattresses; the Salvation Army, British Heart Foundation and Red Cross will usually accept them, as will local housing charities. Some charity shops will accept them to resell in order to raise funds, though you may need to arrange delivery to the shop yourself.
Don’t throw out your old mattress
Simply taking your mattress to the tip, leaving it on waste ground (which is fly-tipping, and illegal) or burning it are not sustainable or responsible means of mattress disposal. Instead, choosing any of the options above will ensure that your mattress doesn’t end up in landfill or cause harm to the environment.
If you would like us to collect your old mattress and recycle it, call us, chat with us online or email us wherever you are in the UK. If you’re interested in buying a new mattress from us, let us know if you’d like us to dispose of your old mattress when we bring your new one.
