UK trade body calls for consistent access to mattress recycling

Around 4.75 million mattresses every year end up in landfill or are incinerated in the UK. That’s equivalent to an area almost four times the size of the City of London.

The National Bed Federation (NBF) is calling on the UK Government to support a nationwide service enabling everyone to recycle their used mattresses

They have obtained figures from 385 waste authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under Freedom of Information to gain insight into how different parts of the UK are coping with the problem of disposing of bulky mattress waste and the recycling of their various components.

While some parts of the country are well-equipped with facilities to recycle end-of-life mattresses, either at the local household waste recycling centre or via a household collection service, many are not, with the fragmented system amounting to a postcode lottery.

The NBF has a target of 75% diversion from landfill by 2028.

“Given their size and mix of component materials, mattresses are difficult to dispose of responsibly, and often the public simply does not know what to do for the best when their mattress reaches the end of its life. In the current landscape, we advise consumers to take the time to find their nearest recycling facility that will strip it down into its parts for reuse, or, alternatively, to organise for a specialist licensed company to come to collect it from their house.

'Most importantly, beware of people in white vans offering to pick your mattress up for free or at a ‘bargain’ price – these rogue traders may take your old mattress and stuff it into a new cover to re-sell or dump it at the roadside,' comments Jessica Alexander of NBF.

They have launched a single portal for consumers to make it easier for people to dispose of their mattresses responsibly.