MATTRESS RECYCLING
Mattress Recycling
Are you in the market for a new mattress but wondering what to do with your old one? Do you cringe at the fact that such a large item that you probably spent quite a bit on money on may end up in a landfill? Read on!
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One of the main goals here at White Lotus Home is to provide mattresses and bedding that are not only comfortable and healthy but that also have a low environmental impact. Since our mattresses are mainly made of natural cotton and wool, the fibers can be reused after the mattress is worn out and the materials are ultimately biodegradable if they do end up in the garbage. Most customers who buy a new natural or organic mattress from us do not feel comfortable simply discarding their old mattresses, so here is a guide to what else you can do with an old mattress.
Feelin’ Crafty?
For those of you who like to get crafty, an old mattress offers many possibilities for upcycling to make something new. If you have an old White Lotus mattress (or any futon style mattress), you can tear it open along a seam and remove the batting to stuff pillows, toys, or any other soft item. You can remove all of the batting and sew the fabric into a smaller shape, such as a floor cushion or a dog bed. Unfortunately, you can’t do these things with a spring mattress, but if you are feeling especially innovative you could always pull those springs out and weld it all into a hat rack or anything else your heart desires!
Give to a Good Cause
If your mattress is still in pretty good condition, a local shelter may be very grateful to use it. You can contact any local shelter, church or social service organization and even if they don’t need it they may be able to direct you to a local family in need. Many Salvation Armies will send a truck to pick the mattress up from your house so you don’t even have to worry about lugging it around. Although bedbugs may be a concern in some areas, in most cases giving a mattress to someone in need is a very satisfying solution and benefits both society and the environment.
Get Online
If you want to get rid of your old mattress quickly and easily or if you want to try to sell it, your best chances may be to go online. Craigslist.org is a good site for giving away items for free or to sell things in good condition. If you specify that the recipient must pick up the item, you don’t have to worry about getting the mattress anywhere besides to your front door. Freecycle.org is another good website for contacting someone in your area who may have use for a used mattress, but all offers on this site must be for free items.
We hope that this guide helps you with your used mattress, but if you have any other questions, feel free to contact us. If you are local to New Brunswick NJ we can direct you to some local organizations who may be able to help you. We do offer mattress removals (for a fee) in conjunction with local deliveries, but our facilities are not equipped to warehouse many used mattresses. However, feel free to call us about any used mattress concerns because many White Lotus employees are college students and New Brunswick locals and we may know someone who can make good use of it.