Tweet
Facebook
Copy
Nothing beats that feeling of buying a new mattress. Your life’s about to change, with many long, deep sleeps ahead of you. It’s truly what dreams are made of!
But once that post-shopping buzz has worn off, you might be left wondering ‘Where in the world am I going to dispose of my old mattress? Can I take it to the dump? Or the recycling centre? If yes, how will I get it there? Will they charge me for it?’
Breathe easy. Recycling mattresses doesn’t have to be a nightmare. There are a fair few options out there – especially if you choose from retailers offering a collection service when you buy a new mattress.
Here’s how you can replace your old mattress in a planet-friendly, yet convenient way.
Can I recycle a mattress?
In short, yes. And we all need to do it more.
According to the National Bed Convention, only 19% of mattresses are recycled in the UK. This is surprising, considering mattresses can be stripped for parts or re-furbished and re-sold – anything’s a better option than landfill.
How often should I replace my mattress?
Generally, a mattress should be replaced every six to eight years. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, however, so we’ve outlined a few factors below that could suggest you’re in need of a new mattress:
– It’s six to eight years old (or older).
– You’re consistently waking up with soreness or stiffness.
– You sleep better on other mattresses.
– Your allergies/ asthma have increased/ worsened.
– It’s damaged or sagging in areas.
A general rule to go by is: if it’s negatively affecting your sleep, it’s time for the mattress to hit the heap.
Thanks to our interest free finance solution, it’s easier than ever to access top of the range new mattresses.
How do I recycle a mattress?
The good news is, yes, you can recycle your mattress, and no, it’s not very difficult.
Many large retailers will offer to take away your old mattress in exchange for a small fee. This means when they drop off your new mattress, they’ll also collect the old one and – if stipulated on their website – recycle or refurbish it.
As an affordable and ethical lender, we’re trying our hardest to leave a positive impact on the world. That’s why we’ve partnered with retailers who offer mattress collection and recycling services.
Here are three DivideBuy retailers practicing sustainable sleep:
Experts in the science of sleep, Simba collect and recycle old mattresses, whatever the brand or size.
Once you’ve bought your new Simba mattress, simply select the ‘Standard Delivery With Old Mattress Removal’ option at checkout for £40, and your old mattress will be collected within 14 days.
What’s more, if you’ve ordered multiple mattresses, they will all be collected for the same, one-off £40 fee.
If possible, your old Simba mattress will then be refurbished for redistribution, while any not suitable will be 100% recycled.
Nectar also offers a mattress collection service, this time for the price of £45. Provided by their partner, Anyjunk, they will dessemble your old mattress and ensure every part of it is recycled.
Collection date is confirmed after booking and can happen any time between 7am-5pm.
In collaboration with Anyjunk, Nectar is committed to sustainable buying and selling, ensuring all waste is diverted from landfills.
For £39 this time, Emma will collect your old mattress – but please note, this must be a different day to the delivery date of your new mattress.
What Emma then does with your mattress depends on its condition. It will either be:
– Fully recycled
– Donated to a partner charity – The British Heart Foundation, Shelter or Debra
– Sold on eBay under its ‘Emma Refurbished’ line
Donate your old mattress
Another planet-friendly way to replace your old mattress is by donating it to a charity. As long as it’s clean and in good condition, it could make all the difference to someone who really needs it.
Not all UK charities will accept your old mattress, so we’ve put together a handy list of those who will:
– British Red Cross
– British Heart Foundation
– Emmaus
– Furniture Donation Network
Sell your mattress online
Platforms such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace have become the go-to place for second hand furniture. So why not ‘Stick it on Gumtree,’ as they say, and make a few quid?
Selling your old mattress online is a simple way to make a bit of money, while ensuring it doesn’t just get sent to the tip.
Contact your local council
Local councils often offer a free mattress collection service (check here to see if it’s available where you are). We would, however, recommend contacting your local council first and checking how the mattress will be disposed of – just to make sure it definitely will be recycled.
**
We’re proud to partner with a whole host of amazing retailers, who can not only offer you the new mattress of your dreams but who will dispose of your old one in a planet friendly way.
Take a look at what’s available on interest free credit now.
