Dive Brief:
- A new pilot project in Alameda, CA, aimed at removing mattresses from the area is underway.
- Hundreds of mattresses and box springs were identified and removed by the project’s founder- DR3 Recycling, the biggest mattress recycling firm in the U.S., according to Waste 360.
- Private companies scout locations to find mattresses and bring them to the recycling complex.
Dive Insight:
Last year, DR3 diverted 130,000 mattresses from landfills in California, with the remaining 40,000 mattresses diverted in Oregon.
The Mattress Recycling Council estimates that over 90% of mattresses can be recycled. The organization will help states that have adopted mattress recycling laws to develop their programs and manage the mattresses collected. California, Rhode Island and Connecticut all passed laws regarding mattress recycling.
