For an item with such a simple purpose, mattresses are complicated. First, there’s the whole Goldilocks experience of finding the right one. Then, at the end of its run, you need a way to get rid of the thing, which is also way more arduous than anyone would hope. Not only are they bulky, but mattresses also contain a plethora of components—from metal coils and wood frames to cotton and polyurethane foam—making them a bear to break down.
Properly disposing of an old mattress, though, is actually pretty important. More than 18 million go to the landfill every year in the U.S., and while any item that ends at the dump contributes to the ever-warming climate as it breaks down, mattresses can be especially pernicious because of their sheer size and the fact that they’re engineered to resist compression. By some accounts, a spent sleeper can take up an average of 400% more space than other landfill-bound goods.
Caring for your mattress can extend its lifespan, says mattress tester and sleep journalist Alison Barretta. She suggests using a protector to safeguard against stains and spills, rotating it twice a year to prevent indents, and avoiding snacking in bed (or at least regular vacuuming if this is your favorite pastime).
Still, even the best-preserved mattresses have an expiration date. The typical one will last between seven and 10 years. While you don’t necessarily need to abide by this timeline, Barretta says there are telltale signs that yours might be toast, like lumpiness, discoloration, sagginess, and stubborn smelliness. Changes in your comfort—like waking up with aches and pains, feeling restless in bed, or finding that you sleep more soundly in other beds—may also signal that it’s time for a new mattress. You can buy a little time by adding a mattress topper, but that’s just stalling the inevitable.
Pillows are more difficult to resuscitate. These last, on average, up to two years, though the longevity largely depends on the material. But once a pillow loses its shape, it can no longer do its job supporting your neck and upper body while you snooze.
While the landfill is the final resting place for many mattresses and bed accessories, it doesn’t have to be for yours. There are accessible ways to ensure your materials aren’t a detriment to the planet on which they’re left behind.
Good: Recycle
Mattresses
Some 75% of a mattress—including wood, steel springs, and soft fibers—can have a second life. Mattress foam, for example, might be shredded to be used as carpet padding or insulation; the wood in box springs might be used to make particle board or mulch; and steel mattress coils are often melted down and used for new mattresses or other types of appliances. Many states actually mandate that residents recycle (not dump) old mattresses, and others even require retailers to provide recycling services to customers buying new beds.
If your mattress is no longer usable, there are a few avenues to try. If you’re getting a new one, ask the retailer if they offer removal and recycling. You might have to pay, but it’ll be the most frictionless option (one mattress in, one mattress out). If that doesn’t work out, give your local waste management agency a shout and ask their advice, or check out the Bye Bye Mattress or Earth911 databases for facilities that will recycle it. Some pickup services are free, but others can cost anywhere from $10 to $150. Outfits like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and A Bedder World, for example, will pick up beds and recycle them for a fee. Facilities will take apart your mattress, sort its components, and keep most of the material from the landfill.
Pillows
Pillows, similar to mattresses, are a pretty big recycling puzzle. The cushions can be made of a variety of materials—including cotton, polyester, memory foam, and down feathers—and so recycling them is not as simple as, say, an aluminum can. You can get in touch with the American Textile Recycling Service to ask if there are any textile drop-off bins in your area that accept pillows, or otherwise request a bag for textile waste from a take-back company like Retold or Trashie. If you’re dealing with down, consider reaching out to a service like Allied Feather, which collects old comforters, sleeping bags, and pillows. You can technically compost feathers, but they’ll take a pretty long time to break down.
Better: Donate
Mattresses
In cases where a mattress is still in good condition—perhaps you’re downsizing or upsizing—you may be able to donate it. The mattress should be in good shape and it should be clean, so you’ll want to give it a good washing by first vacuuming the surface, spot treating stains, and treating it with baking soda to absorb smells and moisture. Places like the Furniture Bank Network and The Salvation Army often accept used mattresses or offer pickup services, but speak to a representative ahead of time to check. Many policies have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barretta says, and it’s possible an organization’s website hasn’t been properly updated.
Pillows
Charitable organizations are less likely to accept pillows for sanitary reasons, but it’s not impossible. If they’re still in good condition, you can contact a local homeless shelter to see if they need them. Otherwise, consider reaching out to an animal shelter, which will often accept old towels and bedding to keep their furry friends warm. No matter the destination, make sure to throw ’em in the wash before dropping them off.
Best: Repurpose
Mattresses
The best thing any of us can do with an item we no longer have use for is to find a way to reuse it instead of dumping it. If you’re feeling creative, you can wrap an old mattress in a protective waterproof cover and set up a plush outdoor area for summertime lounging. They’ve also got potential as a bouncy floor in a playroom. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could also cut through the mattress and use the stuffing to make cushions and pet beds or even upcycle the wooden slats and frame into a sturdy bookshelf.
Pillows
Pillows lend themselves to more realistic repurposing than mattresses. You can, for example, DIY them into draft stoppers for doorways and chimneys. Bed pillows can also easily find new life as travel pillows, or add some cushiness to a hard desk chair (what isn’t good enough for your head might be just fine for your butt!). They also make excellent pet beds—and your animals are likely to love theirs extra because they smell like their favorite person. If you’re game to tear pillows apart, use the insides for stuffing in new craft projects, and the exterior casing fabric as scrap or cleaning rags.