California lawmakers gave final passage Thursday to a bill to create a mattress recycling program, sending the measure to the governor's desk for review.
The California State Senate voted 31-8 to approve SB254, authored by Sens. Loni Hancock and Senator Lou Correa and supported by the International Sleep Products Assn.
The bill has received bipartisan support throughout the legislative process and passed the California State Assembly earlier this week in a 63-10 vote. Gov. Jerry Brown has 30 days to approve or veto the measure.
The bill will create a used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs and minimize costs to both government and consumers, its supporters said.
"We are very pleased SB 254 has been approved by both legislative chambers in California and is now headed to the governor's desk for his consideration," ISPA President Ryan Trainer said. "This is an effective and efficient piece of legislation and ISPA is proud to be a part of the solution in dealing with recycling used mattresses. We appeal to the governor for his signature on this very important piece of legislation that will make a positive impact on keeping used mattresses out of our landfills, off highways and roads, and out of vacant lots."
SB 254 enjoys a broad range of support from industry, retailers, cities and counties, local elected officials, and waste management organizations.
It would create a nonprofit mattress recycling organization whose duty would be to plan, implement and administer a state system to collect discarded used mattresses, dismantle them and recycle their materials for use in new products. The program will be sustained by collecting a nominal fee at retail on the sale of new mattresses and boxsprings.
"Californians buy about four million new mattresses and box springs each year, and discard roughly two million units," co-author Correa said in his comments on the Senate floor. "Dealing with discarded mattresses is a big job for this state. The goals set forth in SB254 establish a sound foundation to move California forward in further preserving and protecting our communities from blight."
SB 254 provides Californians with a comprehensive mattress recycling solution that is consumer friendly, cost-effective and efficient, its backers said, adding that the program is similar to existing recycling systems in California and other states for other consumer products.
"We would like to thank all stakeholders who participated in the process and remained so committed to SB 254," said Shelly Sullivan, representing grassroots education group Californians for Mattress Recycling. "We know Californians take pride in their recycling practices. SB 254 simply gives Californians another avenue to broaden the scope of the state's recycling portfolio."
