We Toss 50k Mattresses Every Day. Where Do They End Up?

Americans discard 15–20 million mattresses every year. That’s more than 50,000 a day!

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The bed-in-a-box boom is accelerating this trend, with retailers offering 100–365-day trial periods. With return rates of 8–18%, many returned mattresses end up in landfills, since receiving, inspecting, and restocking a decompressed foam mattress often costs more than the mattress is worth.

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With an average weight of 60–100 pounds, each one takes up roughly 40 cubic feet of landfill space and can take an estimated 80–120 years to decompose…into microplastics.

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But with the right infrastructure, about 80% of a mattress’s materials like steel springs, polyurethane foam, cotton fiber, and wood can be recycled. Unfortunately, that infrastructure doesn’t exist in most places, and the national mattress recycling rates are less than 10%.

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Why Are The U.S. Mattress Recycling Rates So Low?

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Only 4 of the 50 U.S. states — Connecticut, California, Rhode Island, and Oregon — have enacted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for mattresses. In these states, manufacturers fund the recycling of old mattresses, and collection rates are roughly 45%–65% of discarded mattresses.

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Since these programs place responsibility on manufacturers, dedicated financing mechanisms help ensure the recycling network is funded and operates consistently. These networks include transfer stations, municipal facilities, and retailer take-back locations.

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Residents in these states can choose retailer pickup, curbside pickup, or free drop-off for their old mattresses at no additional charge.

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In states without EPR laws, consumers typically have few options: pay a hauler or junk removal service, take the mattress to a landfill, donate it if it’s in good condition, or dump it illegally, which is often the most common route because the alternatives are expensive or inconvenient.

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How Much Does It Cost to Dispose of a Mattress?

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Beyond the roughly 40 cubic feet of landfill space each discarded mattress takes up, disposal comes with real financial costs. Landfills often charge a mattress-specific surcharge of $15–40 per unit on top of the standard tipping fee. If we aggregate that, it’s $300 million+ per year in landfill tipping fees for mattresses nationally.

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Illegal dumping carries its own price tag: municipalities spend about $75–150 per mattress to collect, transport, and dispose of it. Nationally, it costs $100 million+ per year in illegal dumping cleanup costs.

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So even if we are not discarding mattresses every year, we are paying for their cleanup.

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There’s also lost material value in discarded steel, iron, and foam.

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And there are environmental costs. Recycling a single mattress saves 500 gallons of water, saves enough energy to power a home for 3 days, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of driving 60 fewer miles.

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By contrast, states with EPR programs typically charge a recycling fee of $9–$22.50 per mattress at the point of sale. A national program at $10 per unit would generate an estimated $350–400 million per year for recycling infrastructure.

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How Can We Reduce Mattress Waste?

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As in any case, individual choices add up as well. Here are some things that you can do to keep mattresses out of landfills:

• Invest in a good mattress: Choose mattresses that are built to last and come with a strong warranty. Also ask whether the brand will repair or replace parts during the warranty period. Also read: Sustainable Bedding: Top Brands & Fabrics‍
• Take care of your mattress: Extend its lifespan by using a mattress protector to guard against stains and moisture, and rotate it every 3–6 months to distribute wear evenly and prevent premature sagging.‍
• Consider donating your mattress: If you’re replacing a mattress that’s still in good condition, check with charities, shelters, and furniture banks to see whether they can accept it. You can also contact local animal shelters, which may accept a clean mattress even if it has minor cosmetic stains.‍
• Recycle your mattress: If you live in one of the four EPR states, drop it off at designated collection points. If you’re in a non-EPR state, check with your city’s waste management services for guidance. Here’s a nationwide list of recycling services.