How to dispose of your old mattress easily and still be environmentally friendly

With around 4.75 million mattresses a year ending up in landfill or incinerated in the UK each year, there is an increasing requirement for a nationwide programme to fund a service enabling everyone to recycle their used mattresses.

While some parts of the country are well-equipped with facilities to recycle end-of-life mattresses, either at the local household waste recycling centre or via a household collection service, many are not, with the fragmented system amounting to a postcode lottery.

Did you know

• In 2022, 22 million people admitted to throwing away their mattresses in the last 7 years
• In the UK, around 22 million pieces of damaged household furniture, including mattresses, tables, chairs and wardrobes end up in landfill every single year
• 3 million household items of furniture sent to landfill could be re-used or recycled

So why does all this matter?

The production of mattresses uses lots of energy and materials – in fact, the carbon footprint of a double mattress is 79kg CO2e. That is equal to driving almost 200 extra miles in a car. If we use and throw them away too quickly, that means avoidable carbon emissions that harm the environment. One of the best things we can do for the environment is to keep things for longer and recycle them at the end of life.

So here are some of the options to consider when you need to dispose of an old mattress.

Donate it

Before disposing of your old mattress, look at its condition – as long as it’s clean and in good condition, it could really make a difference to someone else.

Some charities accept old mattresses as donations, and it can be a good way to support them. By passing it on to a charity, you know that your mattress will go to someone who really needs it.

Just bear in mind that to donate your mattress, it must meet certain criteria, or else the charity won’t accept it. Usually, as a minimum, you’ll need to make sure the fire label is clean, intact, and the mattress is in generally good condition.

We have listed a few charities that accept old mattresses in the UK below.

• British Heart Foundation– They collect your mattress from you for free and sell it in one of their second-hand stores.
• Furniture Donation Network – Fill in a form online, send images of your mattress and if it passes their selection criteria then arrange a time slot for them to collect it from you for free. If your furniture doesn’t quite match their quality requirements then they direct you to one of their partner sites, Bulky Waste or the Skip Hire Network who can come and remove your item at a cost to you. This charity helps previously homeless people access furniture for their new accommodation.
• British Red Cross– Free collection is available in certain areas, and the charity resells pre-loved mattresses in its charity shops.
• Emmaus – There are 29 Emmaus hubs all over the UK, and free collection is available.

Freecycle

Freecycle’s main aim is to keep still useful items out of landfill and is a non-profit organisation. By listing your old mattress or other pieces of furniture on their website, you can let people in your community know that it’s available. You won’t get any money for it (it’s called Freecycle for a reason!), but when someone gets in touch with you and shows an interest in your item, you can arrange for them to come and collect it from you.

Gumtree

If your mattress is still in relatively good shape and clean, then you could get some money towards a new one. There are lots of different options when it comes to selling online, Gumtree being one of them. You can list your mattress for free and it only takes a few minutes to set up an account. Take a few photos of your mattress and write a description. Then post online. Just remember that your images must be a true and fair reflection of your mattress, and it’s highly recommended that your fire safety labels are clear and intact.

So remember to dispose of your old mattress responsibly:

• Mattresses can be recycled.
• Mattresses are one of the most fly-tipped items so avoid paying someone to take yours away unless you’re confident they are disposing of it responsibly
• Some brands will charge a fee to take away your old mattress when delivering a new one but it’s not always clear where it will end up. Ask them how it will be disposed of and if it’s not going to be recycled, look into your local recycling service.

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Many people report to their GPs each year experiencing neck pain and the cause is often the simple act of sleeping on your mattress. Part of the remedy for neck pain is choosing a good mattress.

Signs that your mattress is causing your neck pain

There are many causes of neck pain, which makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly where your aches and pains are coming from. At BodyMould, we know that a poor mattress can be a major contributor to neck pain. If you’re waking up with a stiff neck there are some clues that will confirm your mattress could be the cause.

• Do you constantly toss and turn during the night, keeping you awake, and preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep?
• Make a note of when you experience the most neck pain. Is it when you first wake up? Does it fade away after a few minutes of stretching?
• Is your mattress over 8 years old? Ideally, you should replace it every 8 to 10 years, the current lifespan of a good quality mattress.

Choosing the best mattress for neck pain

If you think your mattress is causing your neck pain, and your lack of sleep is directly affecting the quality of your day, then it’s important to consider getting a new mattress. Choose a mattress that has a balance between your body weight and sleeping position, and provides the best blend of support and comfort.

The belief that the firmer the mattress, the better it will be at supporting pressure points on the body and thus alleviating aches and pains is often incorrect. And a soft mattress can cause your body to sink into the bed, leading to your spine being misaligned and your neck at an unnatural angle, with the rest of your body left unsupported.

Your mattress needs to suit your weight and build, in order for you to sleep in complete comfort. At BodyMould we know how important the right mattress is for all aspects of comfort and support whilst you sleep. Our range of luxury mattresses for neck and back pain is built specifically to help support your body naturally, preventing the causes of these types of aches and pains.

Does your sleeping position prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep?

If you suffer from neck pain both your sleeping position and the quality of your mattress will have a direct effect on your neck. Adopt a sleeping position that puts less physical stress on your pressure points, such as lying on your back or side. Many people suffer from neck and back pain due to the fact that they sleep on their front and their spine is in an arched position and the head is turned to one side.

However, improving your sleeping position won’t make a difference to your neck pain unless you have the right mattress. Whether you’re sleeping on your back or side, your spine and neck need to be supported, and your head in line with the rest of your body. The mattress itself shouldn’t sag or bow and should keep you comfortable, taking into account your height and weight. The right support has a direct impact on your spine health, which helps to decrease neck pain whilst you rest.

Everybody has different needs and sleeping styles, so one type of mattress will never suit all. So this is why we have three models in our mattress range, offering a choice of comfort and support. Our Deluxe memory foam mattress has a 3/5 comfort/firm ratio and suits many body sizes and weights. Our Supreme memory foam mattress has a medium to firm support level and is particularly helpful for people who suffer from back or neck pain. It is perfect for those of above average build. And our market-leading Airflow memory foam mattress uses our latest advances in cool foam technology by dissipating moisture and heat away from your body and open cells to prevent humidity from building up. This mattress is ultra-comfortable and the perfect option if you tend to get hot at night.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for all aspects of our health so come and choose the best BodyMould memory foam mattress to get your best night’s sleep.

Photo by Teslariu Mihai on Unsplash

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