Three states, California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island have recently enacted mattress recycling policies: 

California’s Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act (enacted in 2013 and amended in 2014) requires mattress manufacturers to create a statewide recycling program for mattresses discarded in the state. The Program is funded through an $11 recycling fee collected from consumers when a mattress or box spring is sold (as Dec. 30, 2015). 

Connecticut’s Public Act 13-42 (enacted in 2013 and amended in 2014) required the mattress industry to create a statewide recycling program for mattresses discarded in the state. The Program launched May 1, 2015 and is funded through a recycling fee collected from consumers at retail when a mattress or box spring is sold.

In July 2013, Rhode Island General Law 23-90, which requires mattress manufacturers to create a statewide recycling program for discarded mattresses. The program began May 1, 2016 and is funded through a visible recycling fee collected at retail from customers on each mattress and foundation sold in the state. These fees fund the collection and recycling of mattresses and foundations used and discarded in Rhode Island.

The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), a non-profit organization established by the mattress industry, created and manages these Programs.

According to a 2012 CalRecycle-commissioned mattress case study recycling mattresses saves landfill space and is estimated to offset 45% of GHG emissions associated with the production and landfilling of these products. The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) website, the non-profit created by the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) to implement the requirements of SB 254, or Earth911.org. For information and resources related to product stewardship for mattresses, see theProduct Stewardship Institute’s web page on mattresses.

Check out the mattress product stewardship page for information on CalRecycle’s activities related to the end-of-life management of these mostly recyclable products