If you have ever moved house, bought new kitchen appliances or upgraded to a new mattress, you understand the inconvenience of having to get rid of big, bulky items. Having spent a large part of your life on your mattress it can feel as familiar to you as an old friend, but eventually all mattresses must be replaced, which leaves you with the unenviable position of having to figure out how to get rid of it.

Unfortunately, it is far too common to see mattresses on the side of the road, in alleyways or illegally dumped elsewhere, and this is because they can be quite a hassle to get rid of. However, this does not have to be the case. There are many ways of recycling your old mattress, depending on its condition, materials and the level of time, energy and effort you are willing to put into it. Mattresses are fairly easy to recycle, as long as you are aware of its contents and how to do so, or break them down into parts and recycle them individually. You can also trade old mattresses in or sell them online.

With so many services available, there is no reason for your old mattress to be stood up against the wall in your spare room, sit out the back or out the front of your house. There are many options to remove your old mattress efficiently, sustainably and ethically.

• Inner spring mattresses

These are the traditional mattresses that are slowly going out of style which are used with metal support coils or springs in the centre to provide support to the sleeper. The metal used is usually tempered steel, and usually has additional foam and a latex top layer.

• Memory foam mattresses

Memory foam mattresses were created by a NASA contractor as a more supportive and comfortable option than springs. There are different kinds of memory foam mattresses but they can be made of polyurethane foam, gel-infused or cooling foam or open cell foam. Unlike spring mattresses, memory foam mattresses are generally made of the same material the whole way through.

• Latex mattresses

Most people are familiar with latex, the material which is formed from processed tree sap of the rubber tree. Latex mattresses can either be made of this natural latex, synthetic latex foam or  blended latex form (a combination of both).

You can learn more about what is in your mattress here. 

Old mattresses can be recycled, but there are strict regulations regarding how this is done. This is because throwing away mattresses and other large furniture and waste can have devastating effects on the environment and the society that we live together in.

Old mattresses are made up of mostly recyclable material, which means they can be broken down and repurposed. You can either attempt to do this yourself, or you can hire professionals who can do it for you.

We should put our environment first, which is why recycling matters. Recycling your mattress not only benefits the environment and the economy, but it benefits your own wallet. By getting rid of your mattress in an illegal or unethical manner, you are not only putting the environment at risk, but you are at risk of seriously hefty fines which can range from $500 to $2000 for illegal dumping. Not only that, but in some cases, reusing or reselling your mattress can land you a bit of extra cash. But more important than money are the benefits of recycling mattresses, which include:

• Reduced energy consumption
• Lowering greenhouse effects and fossil fuel usage
• Reduced acidification in water and soil

Mattress removal costs can differ from city to city, state to state, and from situation to situation.

Mattress removal can start from $69 in NSW, $70 (+GST) in Queensland and between $35 and $60 in Victoria, while some mattress removal fees in Western Australia start at $100. These prices are subject to change, and are based solely on the individual companies pricing structure. To get a free quote from a rubbish removal company based in Sydney who specialise in mattress removal, contact 1300 Rubbish today on 1300 78 22 47.

There are many alternatives to recycling your mattress, but this will depend on the state of your mattress.

• Reusing or re-selling old mattresses

If the mattress is not damaged or in bad condition, you may think about reusing it in a bed in a spare room, gifting it to a family member, or otherwise selling it online. You would be amazed at the amount of interest a quality mattress can get on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. Many university students or frugal savers take advantage of used mattresses rather than fork out on the money for a brand new one. This is a great alternative because someone is getting use out of it and you are making a bit of money too.

• Donating to charity

Again, if your mattress is in good condition, you may want to donate it to a charity so it can be used by someone less fortunate than yourself. It is quite easy to donate a mattress in Australia with organisations like Freecyle and Gumroad, and renowned charities like Vinnies and the Salvos. Make sure that you call ahead to the latter institutions before you show up with the mattress, as they may or may not be able to take them, even if you deliver it yourself.

It is common for people to become so used to their mattresses that they do not even realise when it is time for a new one. While an indent perfectly aligned to your body can feel welcoming every night, it is not technically a great thing for your spine or your sleep cycles.

Many people do not know how often a mattress should be replaced which leads them to poor sleep, lower back pain and poorer quality of life. The general rule of thumb is that you should replace your mattress every 6 to 8 years, depending on its level of use, wear and tear. This is a general guideline and will depend very much on your individual situation. Some more reasons to replace your mattress are as follows:

• You are sleeping poorly
• You sleep better elsewhere
• It is noisy, squeaky or saggy
• It is damaged or uneven
• You are waking up feeling unrested
• You wake up with stiff joints or sore body parts
• You are waking up frequently

If your mattress is no longer comfortable and provides you with a good sleep, it is time to move on and recycle it.

Mattresses are big, bulky and can be difficult to get rid of. If you are a busy person and do not have the time, energy or interest in removing and recycling your mattress yourself, you can hire rubbish removal professionals like 1300 Rubbish to remove mattresses and recycle them.

1300 Rubbish takes the ethically and environmentally friendly approach to waste disposal in order to reduce your impact on the environment and prevent fines or penalties for improper rubbish disposal.

If you’re in need of a friendly, professional rubbish removal team to assist you or your business in Sydney, look no further. We know how to get the job done. The 1300 Rubbish team is Sydney’s best rubbish removal company, bringing you high-quality service at an affordable price.