What happens when a mattress is landfilled, or worse, illegally dumped and left in nature?
Aside from being an eyesore – landfilled or illegally dumped mattresses and box springs can harbor pests, and contribute to environmental degradation. The materials inside — including foam, synthetic fibers, and metal springs — aren’t meant to break down outdoors. They slowly deteriorate, polluting soil and water and potentially threatening local ecosystems. Wildlife can get trapped in the coils, and the flammable materials inside can even pose a fire hazard. (Mattress Recycling Council, California)
That’s why proper mattress disposal matters — and WasteFreeSD.org is here to help.
WasteFreeSD.org is a free resource provided by I Love A Clean San Diego and sponsored by the County of San Diego. Whether you’re cleaning out your garage, moving, or replacing an old bed, the site makes it easy to find nearby recycling centers and collection events that accept mattresses and box springs.
Some recycling options in WasteFreeSD include: EDCO’s Recovery and Transfer, Republic Services, Junk MD, Waste Management, and so many more resources!
The story doesn’t end when you choose to recycle your mattress and box spring — it actually gets a new beginning.
When mattresses and box springs are recycled, up to 80% of the materials can be recovered and transformed into useful new products. The steel springs are melted down and reused in construction or new appliances. The foam padding can become carpet underlay, the cotton can be reclaimed and repurposed and the wood frames are ground into mulch. What was once a wasted resource becomes a valuable part of the circular economy.
By choosing to recycle instead of dump, you’re doing more than just clearing out space — you’re protecting San Diego’s natural spaces, supporting local recycling jobs, and reducing the demand for raw materials. That old mattress might just become part of a playground, a carpet, or even another mattress.
So next time you spot an old mattress leaning against a dumpster or sitting by the side of a rural road, think about the future it could have had. And when it’s your turn to let one go, don’t let it become waste, give it a second life as something new!.
Visit WasteFreeSD.org, search your ZIP code, and do your part to keep San Diego clean, beautiful, and waste-free — one mattress at a time.
