EzualRegor t1_iud4ayx wrote on October 30, 2022 at 12:47 PM

Breaking down a matress and box spring is no joke. So I assume there will be substantial fees added to disposing these materials. How about we ban the sale of cheap junk that is engineered to fail.

jjgould165 t1_iud66a7 wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:05 PM

It will be a $55 fee in my town and they also suggested asking the company that you purchase your new mattress from if they are cheaper and just take care of it that way.

brufleth t1_iudvu3m wrote on October 30, 2022 at 4:18 PM

Up until now, they just got tossed in the back of the garbage truck. Always fun to watch them get crushed up.

Is this rule being pushed by the bulk trash pickup lobby?

OakenGreen t1_iud3gx8 wrote on October 30, 2022 at 12:39 PM

Barrel fires!

summerly27 t1_iud7k5r wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:17 PM

Municipalities are required to provide a recycling option to residents. Whether that be a curbside pickup or a bin at the town transfer station. Contact your local DPW for specifics.

Additionally, if you are buying a mattress, you can have the furniture company remove/recycle it.

Morley__Dotes t1_iud5b3b wrote on October 30, 2022 at 12:57 PM

Google “mattress disposal near me” and you will probably find a few options. You may have to pay if you aren’t able to transport the old mattress somewhere yourself.

Also, if you are buying a new mattress, I suggest asking the seller if they can take the old one. Some will. I’m surprised this new regulation doesn’t also require them to begin doing that too. Some states already have that.

Edit to add that the local dump near me recycles them for free if you have a sticker.

diplodonculus t1_iud8uzb wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:29 PM

What were you doing prior to this law for your mattress? I know you weren't just tossing it in with your household trash.

wkomorow t1_iudchyo wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:59 PM

In our city, you purchased a matress sticker -59$ or there abouts and affixed it to the matress, and left it on the curb on garbage pickup day or you had the furniture store pick it up when they delivered a new one. Now the city has partnered with a recycler who picks it up for $55.

For clothes, we have 2 municipal drop boxes plus charity drop boxes. I guess they sort out reusables/donatables from trash.

SharpCookie232 t1_iudglnc wrote on October 30, 2022 at 2:29 PM

>I guess they sort out reusables/donatables from trash.

They do. They sell what can be sold to be re-worn and the rest is sold by the ton to India, where it is sorted through to see what can be sold in developing countries, and the rest is ground into fibers and used for insulation. You can learn more about it here:

https://graphics.wsj.com/glider/rags-dea65355-83f8-4ce7-8297-2e5f8de20fd9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZUOCsnQqY

diplodonculus t1_iudir29 wrote on October 30, 2022 at 2:45 PM

That seems perfectly reasonable.

rousseuree t1_iudt86y wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:59 PM

City of Boston would 100% take them, no special time of year limits

lotusblossom60 t1_iudl7s7 wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:03 PM

My town would pick them up. Now they say they will no longer do that.

diplodonculus t1_iudliim wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:05 PM

Which town was previously picking up mattresses for free and is now no longer doing that?

lotusblossom60 t1_iudn2cp wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:16 PM

I’m not going to dox myself, but I just had a mattress picked up a month ago.

diplodonculus t1_iudohjf wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:26 PM

Credible

Live-Breath9799 t1_iud3suz wrote on October 30, 2022 at 12:42 PM

Some towns have dumps where non residents can pay a disposal fee to leave mattresses.

User-NetOfInter t1_iud46pa wrote on October 30, 2022 at 12:46 PM

So it’s going into a dump anyways

Puzzleheaded_Ad_7204 t1_iud9i3j wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:34 PM

Not necessarily. They may strip them down to the recyclable steel parts at least.

User-NetOfInter t1_iudk428 wrote on October 30, 2022 at 2:55 PM

I doubt it. A lot of labor, little reward

tenderooskies t1_iudd53w wrote on October 30, 2022 at 2:04 PM

when you buy a mattress, many companies will take your old one for recycling. there will also be pick up at a cost per my understanding. shoes can be dropped off at a lot of bins around the state / your town

Bargadiel t1_iudqojz wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:42 PM

This change is meant for businesses. Anything contaminated with mold or bodily fluids is exempt from this ban. It's because businesses throw out tons of unworn textiles each year due to seasonal changes instead of donating them.

MrsMurphysChowder t1_iudaj0t wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:43 PM

Right? I have not heard of any massive textile recycling program that we're running in Massachusetts currently.

SharpCookie232 t1_iudgtti wrote on October 30, 2022 at 2:31 PM

It's global. Just put it into a donation bin. Companies like Savers and Goodwill sell what can be sold to be re-worn and the rest is sold by the ton to India, where it is sorted through to see what can be sold in developing countries, and the rest is ground into fibers and used for insulation. You can learn more about it here: