Mattress Recycling Program

The ECSWC in conjunction with its five member counties has expanded its recycling program by including mattresses (and box springs) based on the successful results of a pilot project recently initiated by the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). In order to provide incentive for generators to recycle, dry mattresses can be recycled at our facilities for a charge of $11.  The charge for disposal of mattresses that are not recycled is $15. 

The  mattress recycling program includes the following steps:

n          Educating retailers, residents, and haulers of the mattress recycling program;

n          Offering three mattress collection points:  one at the East Central Sanitary Landfill in Mora and one at each at the ECSWC owned transfer stations in Hinckley and Cambridge;

n          Storing the mattresses in dedicated trailers and/or a dedicated building; and

n          Transporting the mattresses to Goodwill Industries in Duluth.

The deconstruction of mattresses results in several marketable by-products including steel, cotton, foam, and wood.  From the pilot study, WLSSD identified markets for these materials including:

n          Mattress covers or toppers (foam sewn to cover) are used to make low-end carpet pads.

n          Mattress foam/polyurethane foam is used to manufacture high-end carpet pads.

n          Cotton stuffing is used as filler for packaging, shipping pads, wall insulation, and road noise abatement material in vehicles.

n          Wood is shredded and used as mulch or it is composted.

n          Steel is used to manufacture new steel products.  One interesting market for the metal bed-springs is a company called Green Glass in Wisconsin for use as vase holders and sconces.