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September 25, 2009
Recycling an Old Mattress?
I have a 10 year old queen size mattress. Its clean because I kept a water proof mattress cover on it from day one, no bed bugs an actually not in that bad of shape. But we had to get a new one for hubby's bad back.
Does anyone in Brooklyn take these for recycling or does anyone want it?
I'm in Bay Ridge.
Ideas welcome.
Comments
Ewwwwww.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 25, 2009 10:11 AM
Recycling a mattress discusting? I think it more disgusting to just dump it. I'm looking for places that might take them and recycle it some how. I know they exist as the times did peice yesterday about a place upstate that will give you 25 bucks for your old furniture, tear apart and recycle whatever parts they can. I just don't want to drive upstat.
And someone might want to take it to use in a prop for a play.
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 10:19 AM
Recycling, yes. The idea of "or does anyone want it?" not so great.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 25, 2009 10:22 AM
Partnership for the Homeless has a program: Furnish a Future.
Not sure that they'll accept your mattress or pick it up: http://www.partnershipforthehomeless.org/programs.furnish.php5
Other possibilities: Freecycle and Craigslist.
Posted by: vinca at September 25, 2009 10:40 AM
Maybe not so great for you but then again you probably have a bed to sleep in.
Actaully the victim of a fire was ready to take for temporary use until she found a family member with an extra bed and not a floor to sleep on to take her in.
I simply want to recycle it in any, way shape or form possible.
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 10:42 AM
thanks vinca!
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 10:49 AM
Cudos to italiana71 for trying to find some other option rather than just trashing it!
And for all you other nay-sayers: Have you ever slept on a hotel matress? (you know, a mattress that has had hundreds of strangers sleeping -and doing g-d knows what else- on it!
Maybe you don't go out to restaurants either because the plates and flatware has been used ???
"food for thought"
Posted by: SenatorStreet at September 25, 2009 11:42 AM
Considering the bed bug plauge... I dont think the charities take used mattresses.
Posted by: saminthehood at September 25, 2009 12:07 PM
Senator...I had a friend once ask me why on earth I bought a sterling silver service online when someone else was using it!!! I brought up your restaurant reference.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 25, 2009 12:11 PM
Seriously, bravo Italiana.
I too recently read something about mattresses and landfills, and it truly is a problem we haven't figured out.
Your including the information about having kept it in a cover, and that there are of course no bedbugs or you wouldn't be exploring, was helpful and makes it a viable option for someone in need of a mattress.
Posted by: Nokilissa at September 25, 2009 12:34 PM
unfortunately most charities definitely do NOT accept mattresses. it's too high a risk re: bed bugs (no way for them to verify that your is bed bug free versus another one that might not be). you may be able to find a taker on freecycle?
Posted by: CG_ups at September 25, 2009 12:40 PM
you can never get OPSS (other peoples' sex stank) off of used mattresses. EVEN if they are covered. guh ROSS!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at September 25, 2009 12:49 PM
It was insane. We were there. You obviously were not.
Posted by: mt_molehill at September 25, 2009 12:57 PM
Well, I guess I'm going to have to go upstate where I know they will take it then. Then I can go apple picking.
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 12:58 PM
BTW Rob, I'm married with two kids so the mattess is pretty clean. ; ).
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 1:08 PM
Not for nothing but didn't italiana71 post pics of some renos done on her house (was that you or am I thinking of someone else?)?
Her home looked immaculate. I'm guessing this is probably one safe mattress.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at September 25, 2009 1:12 PM
we've done renos but I kept them private. Must have been someone else.
Posted by: italiana71 at September 25, 2009 1:24 PM
If you put it out on curb or leave in Gate, the guys with 20 or so mattress strapped to the top of thier van will scoop it up. Not sure how they seem find em but they do. It's almost like they have some sort of used mattress radar installed in their vans.
Posted by: jack slade at September 25, 2009 1:41 PM
I moved recently and tried to find a place to donate my old mattress to but couldn't find one. (I think Salvation Army would only accept it if I were donating the bed frame and box spring, too.)
I just left mine out on the curb when I moved out and posted a notice on craigslist that it was bedbug-free and free for the taking. When I went back to the apartment the next day to clean up, the mattress was gone.
Posted by: mpw at September 25, 2009 3:05 PM
The salvation army on Quincy in Clinton Hill has old mattresses for sale. I imagine they accept them.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at September 25, 2009 4:39 PM
someone needs to call the department of health on that salvation army then. it is NOT a good idea to sell used mattresses and SHOULD be highly illegal. but i guess if you shopping for a used mattress at the salvation army you already probably have bugs of all sort anyway.
and btw i buy things from there, but a mattress ick to the max.
i would only take a used mattress from someone i know. it's funny im saying this considering i sleep on a leather sofa i bought for 50 bux from an upstairs neighbor who moved out a while back ahahha but they promised me they were clean and had no bugs, and i did the sniff test with my dog.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at September 25, 2009 4:50 PM
Of course you can sell or give away a perfectly good used mattress -- on Craigslist. That's where I bought our current mattress, and how I gave away and sold others.
No one with bedbugs would sell a mattress, obviously, but I would raise the issue anyway to make sure that they have never, ever had them -- even at a previous residence.
Posted by: zuleika at September 25, 2009 6:15 PM
in some states it is illegal to sell used mattresses, for health reasons. i thought it was in ny.
Posted by: pmmtenement at September 26, 2009 9:14 AM
If you read the rules on Craigslist, one is you cannot sell a used mattress.
Posted by: mopar at September 27, 2009 10:46 PM
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