Where to put the old mattress?

When buying a new mattress, most people are faced with the question of what to do with the old one: just take it to the trash heap or try to dispose of it in a special place. It is recommended to give preference to the second option, that is, the solution that does not harm the environment and, with the best development of events, gives the product a second life.

Even mattresses from the best manufacturers need to be replaced sooner or later. The need for change is usually indicated by the accumulation of dirt and unpleasant odors, surface deformation and the disappearance of the special properties of the product. This also includes the deterioration in the quality of sleep of bed users. Over a long period of time, a sleeping mattress absorbs a huge amount of sweat, dead epithelial cells and fumes, as a result of which mold, fungus and harmful bacteria can appear in it. Naturally, all this will negatively affect human health.

Do not forget that disruption of the spring product design is often the cause of injuries and injuries. The uneven surface of the sleeping place puts pressure on the back, contributing to the curvature of the spine, headaches and even exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

It would be correct to mention that the mattress resource will in any case become thinner after 5-10 years. After years of service, the metal of the springs grows old, the filler sags and, as a result, the bedding begins to sag. The shortening of the service life is accelerated with an uneven distribution of the load on the surface: that is, if there are partners with different weights on it, or the owners often sit on the edge of the bed.

The first option that comes to mind when thinking about getting rid of the mattress is to just throw it in a landfill, but this is strongly discouraged. Moreover, it is impossible not only to take out the old product to the garbage cans, but also to take it out to the landfill on your own. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, densely woven wadded mattresses often lead to fires in large areas. Considering that such fires occur in landfills, all this is accompanied by the release of a large amount of toxins into the air and the spread of fire to nearby settlements.

It is also not worth burning the mattress on your own: the effect will be similar, albeit in smaller quantities. This is especially important to remember when trying to burn a product made of foam rubber or synthetic fibers. When creating it, toxic glue, plastic, foam rubber can be involved - that is, combustible components that, in an open fire, lead to a fire. When burned, glue and synthetics also emit carbon monoxide and hydrocyanic acid - dangerous volatile compounds that provoke suffocation and lead to fainting.

Secondly, if it is banal to leave a large-sized object near the garbage cans, then it will interfere with other residents and public utilities workers, but will attract homeless animals. It is likely that pieces of the mattress will be pushed across the territory, and even rats will start in them.

In principle, you can even get a fine for an abandoned mattress if the regional operator refuses to take out the bulky cargo along with the rest of the solid waste. Individuals are punished for 1-2 thousand rubles, and organizations - up to 100 thousand rubles. Thirdly, having arrived at the landfill, the object is likely to stay there for tens of years, all this time negatively affecting the state of the environment, absorbing hazardous compounds and becoming a concentrate of toxic substances.

An argument in favor of proper disposal of bedding can be the possibility of obtaining useful components, and hence their secondary use. All mattresses are divided into spring, with a base of metal springs, and springless or synthetic (orthopedic), which contain latex, cotton wool, coconut coir or polyurethane foam. These varieties can be disposed of in different ways, the simplest of which is considered manual. In this case, the product is disassembled into individual elements, which are sorted according to belonging to a group of materials, and then either destroyed or sent for recycling.

For example, an old mattress can provide foam, felt and cotton for carpets and stuffed toys, steel springs for melting new pieces, recycled latex for upholstering furniture, or even wooden decorations. Wooden parts are also suitable for receiving shavings, cellulose, sawdust and fuel cells. From plastic elements, you can get granules, polymer chips and a variety of recyclable materials.

There are several options for where to put the old mattress. A sufficient number of enterprises specialize precisely in the processing of this kind of large-sized products, as well as their direct export. As a rule, after the client contacts the company, a team of specialists comes to him and collects the waste. If the mattress crumbles or smells bad, it is also packaged. Its removal can be carried out by an elevator or without, depending on the dimensions. The cost of such a service starts from 500 rubles and depends on the address, number of storeys of the house, size and weight of the mattress.

Further, the garbage is directly transported to public or private enterprises engaged in the processing and disposal of raw materials and holding a license. However, before contacting specialists, it should be remembered that most companies do not accept wet or overly contaminated products, and therefore they should be cleaned of stains and dried.

It is important to remember that if you want to take out the mattress yourself to a recycling company, you will have to face some difficulties. A small bedding set is relatively easy to roll up and take out in a car. However, the large spring model will have to be taken out of the apartment with outside help, taking it out on a rented gazelle.

Quite often, the manufacturers of these products help to solve the issue with the old mattress. The most common promotions are “Give used and get a discount” or “Old mattress in exchange for a new one”. For example, it is widely known recycling program from "Ascona" - the largest enterprise producing goods for good sleep. During certain periods of time, buyers can exchange an old product for a 10-15% discount intended to purchase a new one. At the same time, the special offer even applies to the online store: without leaving your home, you can organize the replacement of an old item with a new one at a discount price. Similar promotions are also found in such large manufacturers as Ormatek or Comfort.

Quite often, "tired" mattresses are transferred to specialized animal shelters. Such a bedding will especially delight the inhabitants of establishments in the cold months, when the cement floor or even damp earth is very freezing. Workers accept products even with springs or minor damage, since it is quite possible to eliminate them with their own hands.

Old bedding can also be taken away to a charitable organization or to offer it on the website of the "Give for free" format... The convenience of the second method is that they are picked up immediately from home.

Sometimes people who are fond of handicrafts and are able to invent new applications for them also demonstrate interest in used mattresses. For example, metal springs make original organizers, stands for flower pots or unusual interior items. A good solution is to transform the mattress into a pillow or bedding for your pet. If the item visually looks worthy, and its replacement is caused not by real problems, but by the desire to purchase something of a higher quality, then, of course, it can be sold. Sometimes the need for old mattresses and blankets arises when insulating technical rooms.

It is not forbidden to disassemble the old product yourself, and then dispose of it in parts. Springs are taken to the scrap metal collection point, and wooden parts and coconut fiber are burned instead of firewood when the sauna is fired. Felt and foam rubber can be used as insulation. If the springs and filling have been preserved in a satisfactory condition, then the old mattress can be turned into a new one. To do this, you will need to buy a ready-made cover or sew a new one from durable high-quality fabric, and also add several sheets of foam rubber or foam inside.

There are several interesting ways to use an old mattress in the country or in the countryside. Be sure to dry-clean it, you can transform the bedding into insulation for a barn or doghouse.

You can also organize isolation for the chicken coop. An old object makes an excellent stuffed animal with a stuffing of hay, which is displayed in the garden. By cutting the product into several pieces, you can use it to create a lining for a swing, as well as cushions for a bench or wooden chairs. It's quite simple to assemble with your own hands swing bed for children.

To create it, you will need a pair of pallets, a mattress and a blanket, a pair of wooden slats, screws and a thick rope. First of all, a base is constructed from the pallets, corresponding to the length and width of the mattress. Next, the wooden slats are fixed to the pallet with screws. Having drilled a few holes, you will need to stretch a rope through them and fasten it to the trees like a hammock. A mattress and a blanket are placed on the swing, and then the product is covered with a polyethylene cover.