Got an old mattress in your house? Then it’s time for a refresh. But before you make the leap to a brand new one, you’ll probably be thinking about how to dispose of it. And if you’re like us, you’ll want to do this in the most responsible way possible. Enter Mattress Recycling, our favourite way to say goodbye to your old one – without sending it to landfill.
First you may want to consider your options for getting rid of a mattress, like:
- Take your old mattress to the local tip
- Give it a second life by donating to friends, family or a charity
- Use a mattress removal service to dispose of your mattress
- Book a bulky waste collection through your local council
- Book with Simba’s trusted third-party recycling team to come and collect it
All mattresses, no matter how well made, will need to be replaced eventually. Most manufacturers recommend that you should replace your mattress every 8-10 years on average, but this depends on the condition. An old mattress can become unhygienic or offer less support, resulting in poorer sleep quality. They can also become damaged by damp, mould or staining.
How to recycle an old mattress
Many of us would like our old mattress to be recycled. Unfortunately, when you take a mattress to the local tip or use an independent mattress or waste removal service, it does not guarantee the mattress will be properly recycled. In fact, very often these surplus mattresses can be sent overseas and even fly tipped.
The figures don’t lie. In the UK, only 14% of used mattresses are currently sent for ‘real’ recycling. This refers to when more than 80% of components are salvaged. Which means that 86% of unwanted mattresses are not recycled, resulting in 167,000 tonnes of landfill. This is largely down to irresponsible mattress disposal, but also purchasing mattresses that leave a large footprint on the planet from the moment they’re designed. Whether that’s because they’re made from environmentally harmful materials, or built using unsustainable production processes.
1. BUY A MORE RESPONSIBLE MATTRESS TO BEGIN WITH
Mattress recycling is more efficient when your mattress is made to be easy to recycle. So it helps if it’s designed and built with more responsible processes, and with materials that are sourced more mindfully. It’s why all Simba mattresses are designed to be recyclable via specialist providers, like the Mattress Recycling Service on our site.
We make every effort to ensure that the manufacturing process for Simba is as environmentally friendly as possible. We’re always searching for ways to use more recycled materials over virgin ones; in our unique ReGen™ foam, we include recycled foam where possible. And the foam in our mattresses is certified to CertiPUR requirements, so they contain no heavy metals like mercury or lead.
2. OR BUY A REFURBISHED MATTRESS
We don’t just aim to be more mindful with new mattresses; we also have a Simba Refurbished range. We test and inspect all mattresses returned during their trial period, we replace defective parts inside and out with authentic Simba parts, and we cleanse and sanitise so they are as pristine as new. By doing this, we’re giving a second life to products that may otherwise go to landfill, and you get the full Simba sleep experience for a discounted price. Sounds good, right?
3. USE SIMBA’S MATTRESS COLLECTION SERVICE
When purchasing a new mattress, check that the retailer will remove your old mattress when they deliver the new one as part of the delivery service; Simba is no exception. Only with our collection service, we’ll refurbish or recycle your mattress via our trusted third partner. Any brand, any mattress size, and with no Simba purchase. And because we want this service to be accessible to as many people as possible, it’s £50 for the whole thing. Making it easy for you to play your part.
DISCOVER OUR FULL MATTRESS RANGE
Once you’ve disposed of your mattress, you’ll be in the market for a new one. And when that moment comes, it’s our game-changing Simba ranges you’ll turn to. Whether you’re levelling up to sleep heaven with our Deluxe range, enjoying better sleep at a price that’s right for you with our Comfort range or trying our Earth range, there’s a mattress to suit every lifestyle. That goes for Single Mattress, Double Mattress, King Mattress or Super King Mattress sizes.
When you’ve made your pick, remember to add the specialist Mattress Recycling Service on our site to your basket at the same time, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
