Connecticut begins mattress recycling program

Starting May 1, 2015, Connecticut will begin a statewide mattress and box springs recycling program. The program, Bye Bye Mattress, will be administered by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), a nonprofit organization created by the mattress industry to develop and manage the statewide mattress collection program.

The program, the first of its kind in the nation, was enacted in 2013 through the passage of Public Act, 13-42, which requires the mattress industry to create a recycling program for mattresses and box springs sold in the state.

“The implementation of this first-in-the-nation mattress stewardship program means previously discarded mattresses will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner, sustaining jobs in Connecticut and resulting in cost savings for municipalities,” says Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP’s) Commissioner Robert Klee. “This program mirrors similar stewardship programs the state has enacted for electronics, paint and thermostats. We recognize the Mattress Recycling Council for their commitment to the success of this program and the city of Hartford for their leadership in getting this law passed.”

Bye Bye Mattress allows residents in the state to drop-off used mattresses at participating collection sites and recycling facilities for free. Nearly 50 cities and towns across Connecticut have joined the program as designated collection locations, with some also providing curbside pick-up.

Residents who take their used mattresses to one of the designated recycling facilities located in East Hartford or Bridgeport will receive $2 per mattress from the recycler (limit four per person per day; eight per person per year). Connecticut residents can find their nearest participating collection site or recycling facility online at www.byebyemattress.com.

MRC will report the program’s progress to DEEP each October.

“Working with all stakeholders, the industry has taken a major step toward creating a cost-effective solution to a long-term problem,” says Ryan Trainer, president of MRC. “We designed Connecticut’s program to increase the recycling of used mattress materials by leveraging the existing waste collection infrastructure. MRC is working with many types of businesses and industries to recycle their used mattresses through the program. The Connecticut resident benefits from the no-cost drop-off opportunities. This will both encourage more mattress recycling as well as discourage illegal dumping.”

The program is funded through a $9 recycling fee that is collected when a mattress or box spring is sold to Connecticut consumers. Residents will notice this fee as a separate line item on their receipt. The fee is used to pay for transporting and recycling the discarded mattresses.