A new one on me….

Despite a recent statistic which claimed (and I tend to believe it…) that over 700,000 mattresses are discarded around London each year, the truth is that most city households want to dispose of unwanted mattresses in a responsible, environmentally-friendly way. We are all big on the environment now and saving the birds. I know I am, I even donate to the RSPB.

Matterss dumping is such a huge problem because of the scale of the mattress industry and of course the size. Best Mattress Guide says that there are around 4 mattresses dumped every HOUR in the UK… that is a crazy bad problem. How do we even resolve this?

In the UK the best selling mattress is the EMMA mattress (hybrid).

Unfortunately, as mattresses are classified as bulky items, disposing of them responsibly usually involves a cost, one which can vary considerably according to which borough you live in. For example, in boroughs such as Newham, Lewisham, Hackney and Hounslow it is possible to have mattresses collected for free whilst areas including Hillingdon, Ealing and Barnet generally charge for collection and disposal of mattresses… with Barnet authority charging a massive £55 per initial item! Sadly, even having removed your old mattress, not all boroughs yet follow a recycling route with mattresses they’ve removed.

Although Lewisham council is pro-actively passing on mattresses they’ve collected to a recycling company within their own borough, a considerable number of other London authorities are still just picking up mattresses and giving them a lift to landfill or incinerating them, methods of disposal which give rise to significant environmental concerns. So, particularly if you’re not lucky enough to live in a pro-active borough such as Lewisham, how else can you conscientiously, but cost-effectively dispose of your old mattress if you live in a London borough?

So what do you do?

Many private companies offer competitive rates for collection and ethical recycling of mattresses which are actually less costly than many London authority disposal charges. Companies such as Collect Your Old Bed not only collect mattresses and beds, but will recycle 100% of the materials used, allowing customers a cost-effective and conscience-clear alternative to borough collections.

One resident said items were always being dumped over the fence in his garden. This is how BAD the problem is!!!

“Beer cans, bin bags, needles, you name it, we get it.”

Another said rubbish was often being dumped in the area. She said: “There’s a little passageway near the top end at the junction for Skirbeck Road. There’s always televisions, prams and mattresses there.”

Another local resident added: “People just dump items wherever they feel free – it’s making the area and the town look a mess. “It isn’t just this area that rubbish is dumped – there’s a problem across the town.”

It’s worth bearing in mind that just as different local authorities charge different rates for mattress collection, so do private companies. Whilst you’re checking around to find a price which suits you, remember to also find out exactly what you’re getting for the money as you don’t want just collection for your money, you want ethical disposal too! A good company’s website should have all the information you need to identify:

• That the mattress will be going to a genuine recycling plant.
• How much of the mattress fabric and materials will be recycled. Better companies will recycle 100% of mattress components. Companies like Simba or Emma mattress!
• How the materials produced from your mattress will be re-used.

Tell me in the comments how you recycle your mattresses!