Do not throw your old mattress at a landfill. Here's how I donated my bed instead


Recently I got a new mattress, t Midnight Helix LuxI have been testing at home for several months (a complete overview of the article comes soon). This purchase meant my boyfriend and I had to turn off our old Casper Select mattress. While we were facilitated that we finally found a bed that worked for both of us, we still had to understand what to do with our old mattress because we had no room to store it.

The hardest part to get a new bed is to get rid of the old one. Here's what I did Take out my old mattress And as I met cool people on the road.

My old mattress had to go

My old mattress Casper

Caroline Hugo / Cnet

My boyfriend and I live in a smaller house, so it was difficult to ignore the extra mattress the size of the queen that rests on the wall of our bedroom. The easiest and most convenient option would be to leave it on the street and schedule a mass lifting with our city. In our area, this service is free. However, I didn't want my old mattress to end up at a landfill.

My old Casper, first and foremost, was not that old – we had less than three years and was in great shape. Although we have two dogs, we always kept a bed mattress protector and tried to maintain it as clean as possible. There were no tears or torn on the cover. While mattresses from full foam How does ours deteriorate faster than Hybrid bedsOurs have been in it for many years. The bed can still go to someone who needs it.

I started the process of removing with friends and family. The guy and I sent me messages to our loved ones in the nearby area to see if someone was looking for a new mattress. I also watched Facebook Marketplace and local groups that bought and sold items. Unfortunately, we were not lucky and stuck with Casper a little more.

After exhausting the lighter options, I was looking for places where we could take it. Google's simple searches told me that Goodwill in my area did not accept used mattresses, and the thought of putting my bed in my car to throw it somewhere was another beast. Further research has led me to a local organization that accepts donations for furniture and mattresses – and even better, take it from your home.

Local non -profit organizations for gently used mattresses

beds-for-kids.png

Beds for children

Beds for children is a non -profit organization located in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was familiar with him before starting my research because he collaborated with many local businesses. The organization's philanthropy is simple: it aims to provide beds and necessary furniture for families they need.

This non -profit organization accepts various donations of furniture from springs for boxes, cribs, commodities, small tables, new bedding, new pillows, new mattress protectors, new blankets and quilts and of course mattresses. Zack Smith, director of nonprofit operations, told CNET: “In 2023 we received 3,900 donated mattresses.” These are nearly 4,000 beds outside the landfill and in the homes of families they need.

In addition to donations from locals, Beds also receives donated mattresses from larger corporations and universities. For example, the University of North Carolina Charlotte donates its used beds to dorm. “(Universities) change them every five years or so. We love these mattresses because they are a durable fabric that is waterproof and resistant to beds, “Smith said.

Beds for children also partners with Ashley Homestore Through his license holder, Broad River Retail. Smith said, Broad River is our partner from our beginning. They donate new mattresses, but also encourage people who buy new beds and furniture to donate their old items if the situation meets our standards. This partnership is crucial to how we serve and allows us to continue to receive the inventory we need to serve families in our community. “

How does your bed go to a family that needs

beds-for-children warehouse

Beds for children

My process of donating a bed for kids was flawless. After submitting the request on the website, I was contacted by inventory manager Will Linbury. Then I sent a few pictures of the mattress to make sure it was in good condition. We scheduled time to boot, and then two team members brought out the bed of my house in their truck. Raising requires a $ 30 tax fee, but falling donations are free.

Since these donated mattresses go directly to someone who needs them, the bed has to meet several requirements. Smith said: “We demand that (used mattresses) less than eight years old, without torn, tears or stains. The brand doesn't matter. ” Keep in mind that these requirements are specific to this local organization. The organization that accepts mattresses near you can have stricter or looser instructions.

Once you get out of your hands, the bed then goes through an inspection and a cleaning process. “Once we get the donated mattresses, we send them to disinfect them at a place called Carolina Dry Heat to make sure they are clean and no bugs. With all the mattresses used, bed bugs are always the main concern.

In 2023, Beds made a record of 1,002 deliveries to families in the area. With the help of 2,783 volunteers, they served 3,948 people in need. “We feel passionately that we create a space where furniture, colleges and individuals can donate their mattresses sustainably,” Smith concluded.

Other options to release from the old bed

A man who recycles mattresses

Monti Racus/Getty Images

If you can't find a local charity to donate or unable to transfer your donation to some time where old mattresses are accepted, here are some options that can be found in your area:

  • Mass lifting: If this service is offered, you can leave a mattress on your street and make the time for your city to come.
  • Goodwill or habitat for humanity: Some locations of Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity accept mattress donations. Check your local websites.
  • Re -supply: This organization founded and owned by veterans takes furniture in any condition.
  • Friends or family members: Contact friends and family to see if they need a mattress.
  • Mattress stamps: Some mattress stamps will lift your old mattress when you buy a new one.
  • Local groups to buy and sell: Try to sell or give your gently used mattress on Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle Network, NextDoor or Craigslist.
  • Recycling services: The world of bed is a national service for recycling and removing mattresses that takes your bed from your home.
  • Local shelters: Some homeless shelters can take mattress donations.
  • Affiliating and crafts alone: Fill the bed of your pet with extra foam, use the coils as a wine grid or create a wooden box of sloping substrates.

Ultimately, try to keep your mattress out of the landfill. I know this is not possible for every mattress: some are too old or torn to be given to a new one. But according to Tip to Recycling MattressesMore than 75% of the mattress can be recycled. This includes materials like foam, steel coils, some fibers, and sometimes wood. Chances are there are places in your area that either recycle old beds or accept donations.

I am happy to have found an organization that not only facilitated the donation process, but also left me to feel good about where my old bed is going.





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