Investing in a high-quality mattress is one of the crucial choices you can make as a homeowner. It helps you enjoy a better night’s sleep because of its maximum comfort and proper support. A superior mattress can also benefit your physical and mental health, which may help reduce the likelihood of developing body pains and boost your mood.
Unfortunately, like many other things, even the most durable mattresses won’t last a lifetime, and most retailers would advise you to replace them once every eight years. When that time comes, you may wonder what you will do with your old mattress and how to dispose of it?
However, you can’t simply throw an old mattress into a rubbish bin and forget about it, and in fact disposing of an old mattress can be difficult because of its size, weight, cost, and restrictions in many areas. Disposing of an old mattress may actually require some considerable logistic and environmental considerations, so from repurposing it to hiring a skip, this article will explain six proper ways to properly dispose of an old mattress.
1. Repurpose It
Sometimes, just because you have no further use for an old mattress it doesn’t automatically mean it’s going in the bin. As long as it’s in decent condition, it may still get a second chance to live elsewhere.
Before throwing your old mattress out, you should determine if there are other options to keep it out of landfill and reduce waste. Ask yourself if you could find other uses for it, such as donating it to a charity or someone in need or recycling the old materials.
If you have an old mattress that is still in good condition, you can donate it to specific shelters, charities, and churches. Charities like the British Heart Foundation, Furniture Donation Network, British Red Cross, and the Furniture RE-use Network will happily accept your donation. You can also let a professional cleaning company sanitise it to allow you to sell it, or of course, you could always hold on to it for a little longer.
You should also remember that when donating or selling your old mattress, you must always check that the fire safety label is still present and that it doesn’t have any damage. Without it, the organisations won’t accept your donation.
How Much Money Can I Earn for Selling My Mattress?
Nowadays, the internet allows aspiring entrepreneurs to put their unused or unwanted items for sale. In this example, you could sell your used mattress online on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or perhaps eBay. Whilst the amount that you could list it for depends on the size, state, and age of the mattress, you could potentially receive between £15 to £80 for it.
2. Let a Professional Collector and Van Get the Mattress
If you do decide to dispose of your mattress, then one of the fastest, most cost-effective, and efficient ways to do so is by calling a waste removal service. These organisations provide a man and van service, where they’ll arrive at your property, get your items, load them into their van, and take them away quickly. These services are ideal for removing large items like refrigerators, ovens, carpets, and mattresses when clearing a house. That way, you don’t need to go to the trouble of transporting it to the nearest local authority recycling centre.
3. Consider Hiring a Skip
If you’re doing a major clean-out and want to get rid of your old mattress, we recommend hiring a skip. It’s a great way to manage rubbish safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly manner. Of course, not every single skip hire company will accept a mattress, however, the vast majority of them will.
Whilst you need to pay to hire a skip to remove your mattress, it can be handy to do so, because it can help you get rid of the other stuff you don’t need at the same time. That way, you can free up more time and space, and clean out your house at the same time – however, remember to speak to the skip hire company first, so that you properly understand their mattress recycling policy.
4. Purchase a New One from a Retailer
Quite often, your local retailer will help you to dispose of an old mattress if you are buying a new one for your bedroom. If you’re buying a new mattress from your local store, you may be able to arrange for them to remove your old mattress for disposal, and in fact, the store may offer this service for free or for a small additional fee. You should always check with the store about their mattress disposal policy before purchasing a new one because the prices for collection and disposal vary.
5. Bring It to a Local Tip or Recycling Centre
Recycling is an excellent way to deal with your old mattress because it helps conserve natural resources and energy and prevents it from ending up in landfill. It’s also a crucial part of a sustainable lifestyle and a small but meaningful step to saving the planet.
If you have a car or van or know someone who has one, you can use the vehicle to transport your old mattress to a household recycling centre. As a householder, many centres won’t charge you for dropping off your mattress, letting you drive to their location, unload it, and dispose of it immediately. On the other hand, if you’re a business owner or a vendor, you must always check the regulations of your local landfill before disposing of your old mattress, as some rules and laws may prohibit you from doing so.
6. Book a Bulky Item Collection with Your Local Government Authority
Another way to dispose of your old mattress is to seek help from your local authority. Whether you own or rent a house, you can always call your local authority and arrange for them to pick up your old mattress from your property, instead of having to drag it up to the local recycling centre yourself. While most local authorities in the United Kingdom offer this service, you may have to wait a few weeks because of the high demand.
You should also remember that you may have to pay a small charge for your mattress to be collected and disposed of in some places. While the amount you must pay can vary depending on your circumstances, it’s usually a relatively low cost compared to the amount of trouble the problem can cause.
The Bottom Line
Disposing of an old mattress is more complex than it seems. Fortunately, hiring a skip and coordinating with your local authority can help ensure a smooth, efficient, and hassle-free procedure.
If you’re looking for a skip hire in Cheshire, let us help! We are a family-run skip hire and aggregate company ready to help our domestic and commercial clients with their waste management problems. Call us now!
