Image Credit: Turbo Hall

Recycle Your Old Mattress: Give It a Second Life!

Looking to get rid of an old mattress? Baltimore City residents can now drop off mattresses and box springs for recycling at the Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Quarantine Road Landfill Residential Drop-Off Center. In the coming months, DPW will expand this mattress recycling service to other Residential Drop-Off Centers across the city.

This new recycling initiative is made possible through a cooperative agreement between DPW and Turbo Haul, a Baltimore-based mattress recycling vendor. Their mattress recycling system ensures that more than 90% of a mattress or box spring can be reused in the circular recycling economy

Why is Mattress Recycling Important?

The environmental impact of improper mattress disposal can result in carbon emissions that can contribute to climate change. 

Mattresses take up a substantial amount of the limited space in the City’s landfill, with the average mattress weighing 65 pounds and occupying 23 cubic feet of landfill space. Additionally, these bulky items do not compact as easily as traditional garbage, according to Turbo Haul.

How Are Mattresses Recycled?

Turbo Haul is responsible for hauling, processing, and distributing mattress materials for recycling. 

The recycling process involves cutting open each mattress and separating its layers. Foam padding is primarily recycled into carpet underlayment, according to Turbo Haul. Fabric and fibers are repurposed for furniture manufacturing, soundproofing, and industrial oil filters. Metal springs and frames are recycled as scrap metal and can be used to manufacture new appliances and building materials. Wooden box spring frames are shredded for mulch, livestock bedding, or used as alternative fuel sources in manufacturing.

How to Recycle Your Mattress

Residents can drop off their mattresses and box springs at 6100 Quarantine Road from Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On-site staff will be available to guide residents to the correct drop-off area.Residents must unload their own mattresses and box springs into the designated collection unit.

The following items cannot be recycled and will be directed to alternative disposal at the Quarantine Road Drop-Off Center:

• Mattresses infested with bedbugs
• Wet, damaged, or excessively soiled mattresses
• Mattresses from futons, sofa beds, waterbeds, car beds, or crib mattresses
• Sleeping bags
• Mattress pads, toppers, pillows, or bedding

To track mattress recycling locations as the program expands, residents can reach out to recycling email with questions.