Who is the Mattress Recycling Council?
The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) is a nonprofit organization that operates recycling programs known as Bye Bye Mattress in states that have passed mattress recycling laws. MRC was founded by the bedding industry and recycles more than 1.7 million mattresses each year.

If I don’t plan to discard a mattress now, why do I have to pay this fee?
Even if you aren’t discarding a mattress right now, mattresses don’t last forever and will eventually be discarded. State law requires retailers to collect this fee on any mattress sale to fund the state’s mattress recycling program. This program provides a network of participating cities, towns, retailers, recyclers and other organizations where old mattresses are collected for recycling at no additional cost to you. The fee also supports efforts to combat illegal dumping of mattresses and help keep our community clean.

If I decide to take my old mattress to a recycler myself, do I still pay the fee?
Yes, state law requires retailers to collect this fee on any mattress sale at the time of purchase to fund the mattress recycling program. You may receive a modest financial incentive if you drop off your used mattress or box spring at a designated recycling location. Visit ByeByeMattress.com to find the recycle location nearest you.

What are the benefits of mattress recycling?
More than 75 percent of a mattress can be recycled into new consumer and industrial products. The recycling program diverts valuable materials from landfill and helps keep bulky waste like mattresses and box springs out of the waste stream. Mattress recycling programs also offer many benefits for the community, state and environment; including reducing the number of illegally dumped mattresses, conserving resources by making used steel, making foam and other materials available for use in new products, creating recycling jobs.

What happens to my old mattress or box spring when it gets recycled?
Recycled mattresses are cut open and the layers are separated and organized by type. Wood is recycled and used as a fuel source or shredded to produce landscaping mulch. Foam, fiber and other soft commodities are compressed and turned into carpet underlayment or animal bed padding. Metal and box springs are extracted, sent to recyclers and used to make new appliances and building materials.

You can find more information regarding mattress recycling laws through the MRC's program, Bye Bye Mattress.