Mattress Recycling

Mattress Recycling Edmonton, and throughout Alberta

Mattress removal and recycling is a service offered by Junk 4 Good which was established to offer employment opportunities to deserving local individuals in the greater Edmonton area, looking to get back into or better themselves in the work force. In addition to our social cause, we strive to see 85% or more of every mattress and box spring recycled and diverted from the landfill.

Working together with us, you become a local hero by investing in social and environmental sustainability!

In 2015, Junk 4 Good’s parent company Redemptive Developments successfully established Edmonton’s and Alberta’s first and only not-for-profit mattress recycling facility – Evergreen Mattress Recycling – offering an environmental alternative to burying our mattresses. We are confident that together with the support of the public and commercial sectors, we will be able to significantly reduce the amount of waste that is disposed of each year.

Since 2015, we have recycled nearly 200,000 mattresses and expect to recycle an additional 80,000-90,000 mattresses throughout 2020.

 

How Mattress Recycling Works

It all starts with you! It’s easy for you to personally have a lasting social and environmental impact in your local community. If you need mattress removal or disposal services, simply give us a call to book an on-site mattress pick up. Within Edmonton, you can also drop your mattress off at any Eco Station or even the City of Edmonton Waste Management Centre. If you aren’t located within Edmonton, please check with your local transfer station or landfill as we do partner with many surrounding municipalities.

Located outside of Edmonton? No problem, we’ve got you covered! Junk 4 Good is happy to help strategize a solution for commercial junk removal jobs to make sure your mattresses are recycled throughout Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Give us a call today at 1-844-586-5446!

Once the items are received at our facility, the recycling begins! The mattress items land on our floor and are inspected, sorted and the recycling process begins. Our staff will begin to manually separate each item by cutting the mattress open. Our trained staff separate and sort all the individual components that comprise a mattress or box spring. These materials that make up the mattress (steel, polyurethane foam, plastics, wood and more), will then be recycled back into different industry streams to find new uses or be made into new products. With every shipment of material sent out, we endeavour to re-invest back into the local economy by sending items to vendors as close to home as possible.

We are proud to boast that through our manual recycling process, we are able to see upwards of 85% of a mattress’ materials recycled and not buried in local landfills. Along with your help, we are making a long-lasting local impact socially and environmentally. Each year we are able to remove millions of pounds of materials from being buried in the ground.

 

Why Should You Recycle Your Mattress?

Every year, Canadians dispose of over 5 million mattresses and box springs into landfills. Weighing an average of about 70 pounds per mattress, this equates to millions of pounds of materials unnecessarily being disposed of and buried in our landfills. Not only does this cause immeasurable harm to our environment, but it costs taxpayers countless dollars to handle, process and dispose of these items every year.

By making the choice to have us remove and recycle your mattresses, you are supporting our employment programs and helping to impact local individuals lives for good! Since 2011, we have been able to invest over $1,000,000+ back into the local community each year, as well as employing over 50 individuals each year.! We are a not-for-profit company, investing 100% of proceeds back into our local community. Plus, we offer a 10% seniors discount for mattress recycling pick-ups!

Commercial Mattress Recycling Rates Available!

We are more than happy to work with hotels, property management companies or other businesses looking to recycle mattresses in any volume throughout Alberta. Please contact us today to ask about commercial pricing and pick-up availability.

 

Mattress Recycling and Disposal FAQs

How to dispose of a mattress?

Disposing of a mattress can be a difficult and cumbersome experience. Due to their large size, weight and lack of structure, they can be hard to maneuver out of your house and fit into a vehicle. Once you have them loaded up, then where do you take it? Most landfills and transfer stations now charge an additional recycling fee to accept a mattress and some sites have stopped accepting them all together. This is generally due to the difficulty of handling and processing these items, so be sure to do your research prior to hauling your heavy mattress. The easiest option is to call Junk 4 Good. Our capable staff will do all the heavy lifting, so all you do is point to the items. Our truck can easily handle the loading of these items and we will make sure your old mattress gets recycled properly!

When should you throw out a mattress?

There isn’t any hard or firm rule on when you should get rid of your mattress, but many believe the life span can be anywhere between 5-10 years. However, there are many factors you should consider for your specific scenario. It is important to be aware of issues like sagging, stains/smells, pests, squeaks, lumps, or if you’re experiencing aches and discomfort or any allergies or asthma related issues. When you determine that your mattress has reached its limit, Junk 4 Good can help you to easily create space for your new one.

What to do with an old mattress?

When you are looking at replacing your old mattress, it can be difficult to find out what your options are for getting rid of it. Most charity donation programs no longer accept used mattresses as donations, so aside from selling or giving it away to a stranger for free over the internet, what can you do? The best solution is to make sure your old mattress is recycled. Junk 4 Good can help pick-up, lift and load your old mattress items from your home with ease. Our qualified team will take care of all the heavy work, the transportation and will ensure your item is responsibly recycled.

Where to dispose of a mattress?

When looking to dispose of a mattress, you will typically find a few options available to you. Most cities and counties have landfills available for drop off, however these are usually located on the perimeter of the city. Some cities also have transfer or eco stations located throughout their urban areas. These can be must easier to access, however often are accompanied with larger lines as well as sometimes with less accurate fees to dispose of your mattresses and other waste. Be sure to do your research of which locations accept mattresses, as well as the dumping fees and recycling fees for these items. Alternatively, Junk 4 Good can make your mattress disappear with ease. Our teams will arrive on site and remove the mattress from its location in your home. We will then make sure the mattress is safely transported to an appropriate recycling facility, all for a simple all-in-one fee.

Can I put my mattress on the curb?

No, putting your mattress on the curb is generally considered to be illegal dumping as most cities and municipalities do not offer collection for items like this. However, you will want to first check with your local waste management to see if they offer any large item collection. Without doing prior research, we have seen countless customers receive fines for leaving mattresses and other junk in inappropriate areas. If you need your mattress gone fast, give Junk 4 Good a call, we can have a team to your home quickly. Additionally, if you have your mattress “curbside” just before our pick-up, we can offer a 10% discount!

Can you throw away a mattress in a dumpster?

No, throwing away a mattress in a dumpster is also generally considered illegal dumping. The waste that is deposited into dumpsters is carefully regulated and processed by waste specific trucks. Bulky furniture and mattresses being left inside dumpsters often leads to the truck not being able to empty the container. This commonly leads to fines for the property owner/manager and sometimes even the tenant. Before you try to get rid of your mattress by putting it in a dumpster, give us a call instead. We can make sure you avoid any costly fines and get your mattress out of your way quickly and affordably.

How to dispose of an electric bed?

Electric beds can be extremely heavy and bulky to move and transport. Because of their weight and size, safely removing them from a home or building can be troublesome. Also, you’ll want to make sure your local transfer station will accept electric beds, as they often need to be disassembled for proper recycling. Junk 4 Good can help with all of the above. We can take care of the moving, loading, disassembly and recycling as needed. Don’t hurt your back trying to wrestle with an electric bed, give us a call!

Where to recycle foam mattresses?

Foam mattresses can often be recycled along with any other conventional mattress. In fact, foam is one of the most recyclable components of a mattress. To find the best location to take your foam mattress to for recycling, search online for local recycling facilities. If you’d like, Junk 4 Good can do all the leg work for you. Our teams can remove and recycle foam mattresses with ease, you won’t have to lift a finger.

How to recycle air mattresses?

Depending on the material an air mattress is made out of, it may or may not be recyclable. As most are made out of plastic, only some cities, municipalities and waste management programs have the capacity to recycle these materials. Electric air pumps can often be recycled for some of the individual components; however these may have to be sorted separately. If you prefer, Junk 4 Good can do all of this work for you. We are more than happy to load, sort and determine what may or may not be recyclable with the local transfer station.

Who can pick up an old mattress?

In theory, almost anyone COULD pick up an old mattress, but this could potentially put you and your family at risk. When looking to get rid of an old mattress you want to make sure you call a qualified, experienced and most importantly, an insured company. Many “fly-by-night” companies are more than happy to remove your items for a fee, however lots of these operations don’t carry appropriate insurance or WCB coverage to make sure you, the customer, is protected. Always make sure you ask these questions when hiring a junk removal service.

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