How to Dispose of an Old Mattress

Getting a new mattress into the bedroom is usually straightforward. Deciding what to do with the old one can be more difficult.

Mattresses are large, awkward to transport and cannot normally be placed in household waste bins. Leaving one outside can also make it wet or damaged, reducing any chance of it being reused.

Fortunately, there are several responsible ways to dispose of an old mattress in Flintshire and the surrounding area.

Can Coast Road Furniture take away your old mattress?

Yes. When we deliver a new mattress or bed, Coast Road Furniture can arrange to uplift the old mattress at the same time for a small additional charge.

This means you do not have to fit the mattress into a car, arrange a separate council collection or leave it outside while waiting for someone to collect it. The uplift must be agreed before delivery so that our team knows what is being removed.

Our new mattresses and beds also include free local delivery and setup. We will place and set up the new item in the appropriate room, remove its packaging and take the old mattress away if uplift has been arranged.

If you also need an old divan base, bed frame or headboard removed, please tell us when ordering. These are separate items and may affect the disposal charge or the space required on the delivery vehicle.

What happens to mattresses we remove?

The most responsible destination depends partly on the condition of the mattress.

Some of the mattresses we collect can be passed on for reuse. Others are taken to a commercial waste centre. Once a mattress enters the commercial waste system, we cannot guarantee exactly what percentage of its materials will be recovered, so we do not claim that every mattress we remove is fully recycled.

Nevertheless, arranging a legitimate collection is much better than leaving a mattress outside, using an unknown waste collector or risking it being fly-tipped.

Can mattresses be recycled?

A mattress can contain several potentially recoverable materials, including steel springs, foam, polyester and other fibres. However, separating these materials is labour-intensive, and the amount recovered depends on the construction of the mattress and the facilities available to the waste operator.

Manufacturers are increasingly designing mattresses with their eventual disposal in mind. For example, the Cortec™ pocket springs used by Harrison Spinks mattresses are made without glue. The individual pockets are sonically welded, allowing the steel and pocket cloth to be separated more easily. Harrison Spinks describes the Cortec™ spring unit as 100% recyclable at the end of its life.

This does not mean that a mattress will automatically be recycled wherever it is taken. It still needs to reach a facility capable of dismantling and processing its different components.

Will Flintshire County Council collect an old mattress?

Flintshire County Council offers a chargeable bulky-item collection service that includes mattresses.

At the time of writing, the charge is £45 for up to five items, with each mattress treated as one item. Additional items can be added for a further charge, subject to the council’s limits. Charges and collection arrangements can change, so check the Flintshire County Council bulky-item collection page before booking.

This can be useful if you are not having a new mattress delivered or if you have several unwanted household items to remove at once.

Can you take a mattress to a Flintshire recycling centre?

Flintshire residents can also book to take a mattress to one of the council’s household recycling centres.

The council currently accepts one mattress per booking and allows up to three mattress bookings per year. You must arrange the booking in advance and take the booking reference with you. Check the latest requirements on the Flintshire household recycling centre page before travelling.

You will also need a suitable vehicle and a safe way to load and secure the mattress.

Can an old mattress be donated or reused?

A clean, dry mattress in genuinely good condition may still have some useful life remaining. Some charities, reuse organisations and community projects accept mattresses, although their policies vary and acceptance is never guaranteed.

Contact the organisation before taking or leaving a mattress. Do not leave it outside a charity shop or donation point without permission. Once a mattress becomes wet, stained or damaged, it is much less likely to be suitable for reuse.

Be careful when using private waste collectors

If you employ an independent person or company to remove a mattress, check that they are authorised to carry waste and ask where it will be taken.

Very cheap collection offers from unknown social-media accounts or unregistered operators can result in waste being illegally dumped. Household waste remains the householder’s responsibility, so it is worth using a reputable retailer, council service or registered waste carrier.

Preparing your mattress for collection

• Remove all bedding, mattress protectors and electric blankets.
• Keep the mattress indoors and dry until the agreed collection time.
• Make sure there is a clear route through halls, stairs and doorways.
• Tell the delivery team about difficult access in advance.
• Confirm whether a divan base, frame or headboard also needs removing.
• Do not place the mattress outside unless your chosen collection service specifically asks you to do so.

Replacing your old mattress

If your mattress is sagging, uncomfortable, damaged or no longer providing suitable support, read our guide to the signs that it may be time to replace your mattress.

You can also explore our full bed and mattress collection, including pocket-sprung, natural, hybrid, gel and orthopaedic models. Our team can help you compare different comfort levels in store before arranging free local delivery, setup and, if required, uplift of your old mattress.

Please arrange old-mattress removal when placing your order, as uplift may not be possible if it has not been booked before delivery.