Mattress recycling program offering free dropoff May 30 and June 6

Do you have an unwanted mattress or box spring? You can dump it without fees at two upcoming recycling events in Lincoln County.

Thanks to an Oregon law and the Mattress Recycling Council’s “Bye Bye Mattress” program, the bedding items can be disposed of as follows:

• Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thompson’s Sanitary Service, 7450 N.E. Avery St., Newport. For information call 541-265-7249; and
• Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Lincoln Sanitary Service, 1726 S.E. Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. For information call 541-994-5555.

The Mattress Recycling Council is a nonprofit that operates recycling programs in Oregon and other states that have passed mattress recycling laws. The Bye Bye Mattress program is new for Oregon — the result of a law enacted in 2022 — but has been operating for 10 years in other states.

Any mattress or box spring, no matter when it was bought or what its condition, can be dropped off at the two county events. Businesses, colleges, and hospitals, can also participate after completing a registration process with the council.

The program is made possible by a $22.50 fee that is collected when mattresses and box springs are sold. The fees are used to establish a statewide network of free collection events, and to transport items to regional recyclers. In Oregon, these facilities are located in Portland, Eugene and Klamath Falls.

Up to 75 percent of a mattress’ components can be recycled to create new products, according to the council. Foam and fibers, for example, can be incorporated into carpet padding; springs are used in products made from scrap steel, and wood from box springs is chipped for use as mulch or biomass fuel.