Mattress Recycle and Disposal

What do you do with an old mattress after getting a new one? We’ve taken the initiative to research any inquiries you might have for your convenience. In this guide, we will explore topics including;

  • What to do with an old mattress 
  • How to dispose of an old mattress
  • Mattress recycling services

What should I do with an old mattress?

If you want to get rid of your mattress, you can sell it, donate it to charity, recycle the mattress, or dispose of it through a company’s disposal service. These are the recommended mattress disposal methods that you should try. 

  1. Don’t burn or landfill. 

It is an extremely unsustainable way of disposing of your mattress, especially if it is still in good condition.

Disposal in landfills or handling it as rubbish will only increase landfill problems, and burning it will emit harmful fumes to people and the environment. 

Instead, look for options that can help you repurpose the bed so that you or someone else can find a new use for it. 

  1. Sell it.

In good condition, second-hand beds can be sold to people who are often on the lookout for discounted used mattresses. You can try eBay, Facebook marketplace, and any local classifieds. 

  1. Donate to a charity.

Donating it to a charity instead of selling it would provide the less fortunate with a cozy place to sleep. It is still in good condition, and you prefer not to sell it. Here are a few that accept the donations;

  • British Heart Foundation.
  • British Red Cross. 
  • Stella’s Voice UK.
  • Emmaus.
  • Gumtree.
  • Furniture Re-use Network.
  • Mustard Tree, Manchester.
  • The Shelter Trust, Jersey.
  1. Recycle it.

Mattresses are found to be 85% to 95% recyclable, but sadly only 16% of them are recycled in the UK. Rather than letting the bedsit unused, you might consider recycling it to have its parts reused by recycling centres in your area. 

  1. Can your new mattress retailer take it away?

 Alternatively, you can look for companies that offer recycling services. When you buy a new mattress from them, they will offer to take your old one when they deliver your new one. 

How to sell a secondhand mattress

If selling a second-hand mattress, make sure that it is still in good condition. You can sell it online on eBay, Facebook marketplace, local classifieds, or even to friends and family. Here are some tips that you can take to sell your used mattress.

  1. You are advised to deep clean the mattress before selling it. We just want the new owner to receive it clean, which is just common courtesy. As a result, the mattress will also look better when photographed. 
  2. Take pictures of the mattress and then post them up on Gumtree, Preloved, eBay, and Shmock. Fill in the necessary information about the mattress, such as its brand, model, and age. 
  3. Check the going rate for a used mattress and list it  20 to 30 percent off to guarantee a sale. 
  4. You may also sell it to friends and family as they are more likely to buy from you if they trust you. 

Donating an old mattress to charity 

If you are not interested in selling your old mattress but still consider it to be in good condition, your next best bet is to donate it to a charity. This way, the mattress is repurposed for those who truly need it, or the profit is used for a greater cause.

To make things easier for you, here is a list of local charities that accept mattress donations. Keep in mind that these charities have specific requirements for them to accept your mattress donation.

  1. British Heart Foundation 

If your mattress satisfies their criteria, they will arrange to pick it up for free. It will be sold to secondhand shops, and the profit will support the battle of Brits against Coronary Heart Disease.

  1. British Red Cross 

Mattresses donated to the British Red Cross are sold in secondhand shops, and the profit goes to helping people in crisis, not only in the UK but also to international aids. 

  1. Stella’s Voice the UK 

If you live in Hampshire or Aberdeen, you can call to have your bed collected for free. The profits go to the organisation’s cause, which is to end human trafficking and sex slavery. 

  1. The Shelter Trust, Jersey 

You can donate to this charity if you live in Jersey. In which case, the local shelter will match your mattress donation to less fortunate people in the locality who need it.

  1. Emmaus 

Emmaus accommodates over 750 people in the UK who have pledged to stay away from abusing substances to receive state benefits. Contact your local Emmaus hub to arrange for a free collection. 

How to recycle a mattress 

If you’re looking to recycle your mattress, your local recycling centre is your best bet. However, you are advised to research your local council’s gov.uk to find out the materials that they only accept and cross-reference with your mattress’s materials. 

Beds and mattresses are considered to be a bulky waste. They are often expensive to be collected by local councils, not unless you live in Liverpool or some London boroughs that provide free collection for bulky waste. 

Coordinating with the council to have your mattress collected for recycling is your most convenient option instead of having it recycled by your local tip. 

However, ensure that you comply with specific requirements (such as the spot they will collect the mattress from) and standards to ensure that your council will collect it for you.

Using a mattress company’s disposal service

Mattress companies sometimes offer disposal and recycling services. When you buy a new mattress from them, they will pick up your old one to deliver your new one. 


They will then take the mattress and recycle it, which is excellent considering that over 8 million mattresses end up in the UK’s landfills every year.

RetailerPrice of collection & disposalLink
Carpetright£40.00https://www.carpetright.co.uk/bed-recycling-service
Dreams£25.00 – single £35.00 – double £40.00 – king & super kinghttps://www.dreams.co.uk/recycling-services
Emma£35.00https://www.emma-mattress.co.uk/faq/collections/
Furniture Village£55.00https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/furniture-collection-service.html
IKEA£20.00https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/customer-service/services/removal-recycling/
John Lewis£29.95https://www.johnlewis.com/our-services/home-furnishings
Land of Beds£39.00https://www.landofbeds.co.uk/removal-and-recycle
Mattress Man£25.00https://www.mattressman.co.uk/delivery
Nectar£35.00https://www.nectarsleep.co.uk/faq
Next£20.00https://www.next.co.uk/style/es862657
Silent Night£30.00https://www.silentnight.co.uk/environment

Source: Anyjunk December 2019

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