The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) submitted its 2024-2025 annual report to Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, celebrating another year of environmental progress and a full decade of impact of its Bye Bye Mattress program. Connecticut was the first state in the nation to launch the bedding industry’s innovative statewide mattress recycling solution, leading the way in responsible mattress disposal. Since the launch of MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress, more than 1.9 million mattresses have been recycled in the state, enough to fill the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford to the rafters over three times.
During the 2024鈥�25 fiscal year, MRC collected 212,789 mattresses and foundations across the state. Through the program, recyclers recovered 3,643 tons of steel, foam, fiber, and wood, diverting these materials from the waste stream and giving them new life through recycling.
Participation in MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress program continues to thrive across Connecticut, with 157 municipalities participating in the effort to recycle used mattresses. This past year brought several notable milestones, including a significant increase in mattress collections from retailers and educational institutions, the addition of four new lodging industry participants, and a record-setting contribution from the Naval Submarine Base in New London.
The achievements over last year and the past decade reflect growing awareness, industry collaborations, and the program’s ongoing value to residents, businesses and communities statewide.
“Reaching the 10-year milestone in Connecticut is a testament to the success and staying power of the Bye Bye Mattress program,” said Dan McGowan, MRC’s Northeast Program Manager. “Over the past decade, we’ve built a strong statewide network that keeps mattresses out of the waste stream, supports local jobs, and gives new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. The Bye Bye Mattress program is a win for the environment, for communities, and for Connecticut’s economy.”