California kicks off Bye Bye Mattress recycling program

By Paul Ploumis (ScrapMonster Author)

December 31, 2015 07:06:34 AM

LOS ANGELES (Scrap Monster): California’s Mattress Stewardship Plan took effect on December 30th as scheduled. The program named ‘Bye Bye Mattress’ is being funded by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC). California has thus become the second US state after Connecticut to implement a statewide recycling program for used mattresses and box springs.

The state effort is being funded through fee from sale of each mattress and box spring. According to the program, mattress retailers and sellers of mattresses have begun collecting a recycling fee of $11 with effect from Dec 30th on each mattress or box spring sold to Californians. The fee is applicable to new, used and renovated mattresses and box springs. Both mattress and box spring are considered as a separate unit and are applicable for separate fee. Retailers are required to remit the collected fees to MRC every month through the online payment mechanism at www.MRCreporting.org.

The fees collected will be utilized towards funding mattress collection, transportation and recycling services.

Consumers will continue to dispose of mattresses through traditional methods, such as municipal collection or drop-off, or retailer take-back when a new mattress is delivered. Consumers may also drop off discarded mattresses at designated recycling facilities at no charge. The program currently has identified over 40 solid waste facilities as collection locations. The number of such collection facilities will be increased during early-2016. MRC has also started working with stakeholders to divert more number of mattresses from solid waste stream.

According to MRC estimates, the US discards at least 20 million mattresses and box springs every year. The launch of the new program is expected to prevent consumers from illegal dumping of their used mattresses.