Dive Brief:

• Connecticut launched the first statewide mattress recycling program in the U.S. Friday.
• The law passed in 2013 that would require retailers to collect a fee from consumers  at the point-of-purchase that would go toward recycling mattresses.
• State officials estimate municipalities handle more than 175,000 discarded mattresses annually. 

Dive Insight:

Officials estimate that the program has the potential to save local municipalities $1.3 million annually, while providing a boost to recycling businesses. 

The program requires Connecticut retailers to charge a $9 fee to mattress purchases. The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) will oversee the collection. The mattresses will then be recycled.

Robert Klee, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said, “This program mirrors similar stewardship programs the state has enacted for electronics, paint and thermostats.”