The Sioux Falls Landfill receives about 10,000 mattresses per year. These mattresses just wind up sitting in the landfill, barely disintegrating and taking up useful space. The bulldozers, which way close to 80,000 pounds and also have chopper pads, can’t even compact the trash because mattresses won’t break down as well as other items.
"And they just don't compress because of all the foam and fabric; they are put together well," Dave McElroy of the Sioux Falls Landfill said in an article.
Now, the Sioux Falls Landfill has a special container for the mattresses to keep them clean and dry until they can be recycled. The article said the container holds 40 mattresses and that each mattress or box spring could be recycled for about $7.
Once the container is filled, it is taken to a recycling center, which costs the city about $280. However, McElroy said it actually saves the city approximately $800 in unused landfill space, which was previously filled with mattresses.
But the landfill is not the only one benefiting from recycling mattresses. The article said wood from the box spring now contributes to making bio fuel and the metal is being remolded into another product. Fabric and cotton from the recycled mattresses are going to be made into grocery bags and oil filters.
Representative Justin Maas of Online Bed Quilt, a mattress store, said recycling mattresses is a good idea. “Most mattresses are made to last, so it’s no wonder why landfills are having problems compacting them,” Maas said. “The Sioux Falls mattress recycling program is a great idea, not only for the environment, but for the companies using their materials. I think more cities should use this as an example and possible develop their own mattress recycling system.”
Though Sioux Falls only recently began recycling mattresses, McElroy said in the article, "I would say it's going really good. We're probably hauling one to two loads a week. It really makes a lot of sense.”
Online Bed Quilt is here to make sure you get a great night’s sleep. We are a family-owned bedding and furniture review company dedicated to helping you find the best mattress and sleep accessories. We collect and share product information, reviews, and the best and latest available sleep solutions.
