US Faces Growing Mattress Waste Problem Amid Limited Recycling Infrastructure

Replacing an old mattress may seem like a routine upgrade, but its disposal is becoming a growing waste problem in the U.S. Americans discard an estimated 15 million to 20 million mattresses every year, or more than 50,000 a day.

The surprising part? Much of an old mattress can potentially be recycled. Steel, foam, wood, cotton and other materials can be separated and reused instead of ending up in landfills.

Americans are throwing away millions of mattresses

Dropcurb estimates that one mattress can take up around 40 cubic feet of landfill space and may take 80 to 120 years to decompose. With millions discarded annually, that creates a significant waste-management challenge.

Much of a mattress can be recycled. An old mattress is made up of several materials that can potentially be recovered. Dropcurb estimates that up to 80% of a mattress by weight can be recoverable.

Steel springs can become scrap metal, foam can be used for products such as carpet padding, and fibers may be used for insulation. Wood can also be reused for materials such as mulch or particleboard.

The challenge is getting discarded mattresses into recycling facilities.

Why aren't more mattresses recycled?

The U.S. still has limited mattress recycling infrastructure. According to Dropcurb's 2026 report card, only California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Oregon have enacted mattress Extended Producer Responsibility laws.

Dropcurb estimates states with established EPR programs can achieve collection rates of around 45% to 65%, compared with recycling rates of less than 5% in states without such systems.

So, the issue isn't necessarily that mattresses can't be recycled. Access to recycling remains the bigger problem.

Which states have mattress recycling programs?

California, Connecticut and Rhode Island have established programs, while Oregon is the newest state to implement mattress stewardship legislation.

Dropcurb's 2026 report gives Connecticut an A, Rhode Island an A-, California a B+, and Oregon an Incomplete because its program is still developing.

Residents elsewhere may still have local options through cities, retailers, charities or private recycling companies.

What happens to an old mattress?

Recyclers can dismantle mattresses and separate their components.

Steel can be recovered as scrap metal, foam can be processed into products such as carpet padding, and cotton and other fibers can be reused in insulation and industrial materials. Wood can also be processed for mulch and other uses.

This means an old mattress doesn't necessarily have to become landfill waste.

What should you do with an old mattress?

Before putting a mattress on the curb, check your local disposal rules. Depending on where you live, options may include:

Mattress recycling: Look for local drop-off facilities.

Bulk pickup: Some cities offer scheduled mattress collection.

Retailer take-back: Some mattress sellers remove your old bed when delivering a new one.

Donation: Clean mattresses in good condition may be accepted by some organizations.

Professional removal: Junk-removal companies may handle disposal or recycling.

The bigger problem with mattress waste

Every mattress requires raw materials and energy to manufacture. When it is dumped instead of recycled, potentially reusable materials are lost.

The Massachusetts Extended Producer Responsibility Commission's 2026 report notes that approximately 75% to 90% of mattress components are recyclable, while less than 10% of used mattresses are recovered for reuse or recycling nationally.

The takeaway is simple: old mattresses may contain valuable recyclable materials, but the U.S. still needs more convenient recycling infrastructure to keep them out of landfills.