Americans discard around 50,000 mattresses every day; one recycling programme has recovered 650 million pounds from 17 million beds
Around 50,000 mattresses are thrown away every day in the United States, but more than 80 per cent of the materials inside them can be recycled. Instead, most end up in landfills, where they take up space and damage waste-handling equipment. The article explains why mattress recycling remains limited, what research says about mattress chemicals, and how some US states have successfully introduced recycling programmes.
Around 50,000 mattresses are thrown away every day in the United States, but more than 80 per cent of the materials inside them can be recycled. Instead, most end up in landfills, where they take up space and damage waste-handling equipment. The article explains why mattress recycling remains limited, what research says about mattress chemicals, and how some US states have successfully introduced recycling programmes.
