At the聽Municipal Waste Management Association鈥檚 2025 Fall Summit, Tough Stuff Recycling presented 鈥淲riting the Future of Mattress Recycling Together.鈥� The presentation highlighted the importance of mattress recycling in waste diversion efforts across the country in a session titled, 鈥淧roblem Materials Part 2鈥�.
鈥淚t was an honor to join such a knowledgeable and dedicated group,鈥� said聽Mary Horsman, Northeast Manager of Sales and Marketing聽of Tough Stuff Recycling. 鈥淪preading the word about the advantages of mattress recycling reflects our ongoing mission to keep valuable commodities out of landfills.鈥�
Why Mattress Recycling Matters
As reviewed in the presentation, there are several reasons why mattresses should be added to the 鈥渕ust be recycled鈥� list. A single mattress can take up about鈥�40 cubic feet of landfill space.鈥� Mattress springs can jam and damage landfill and incinerator equipment, creating dangerous and expensive problems.
Foams and fabrics in mattresses release鈥痶oxic chemicals鈥痺hen they break down, and a mattress can take more than eighty years to decompose. 聽As more municipalities realize the need to divert mattresses and box springs from landfills and incineration facilities for economic and safety reasons, Tough Stuff Recycling (TSR) is working to provide the optimal solution.
TSR has created a high-capacity system that can recycle a large quantity of mattresses quickly and effectively with a hybrid approach of both manual labor and specialized machinery.
Tracking mattress data and normalizing the cost of processing these bulky items is critical to set the stage for successful mattress recycling programs. As disposal costs continue to increase and end sites work to maximize capacity, diverting mattresses and box springs through recycling is a safer, more economical option.
Tough Stuff Recycling Leads the Way
By connecting with groups like the MWMA, Tough Stuff Recycling is drawing attention to the fact that there is a way to keep mattresses out of landfills. TSR is actively seeking input from municipalities that have an interest in mattress recycling as we look to future expansion of our footprint.