Are you considering burning your old mattress for disposal? Think again. There are strict laws in most states and stiff penalties for violators.
If you apply enough heat to a mattress, it will burn. However, burning your mattress will breach environmental protection laws, and you can find yourself with a fine. Mattresses need to be disposed of correctly complying with state laws.
Is It Okay to Burn a Mattress?
No. regardless of what state you live in, you will be breaking the law if you burn a mattress. Don’t think that older mattresses are any less toxic.
All mattresses give off toxic acrid smoke when they are burned, and for this reason, you are not allowed to burn a mattress.
With most countries signing on to an environmental activist in the past two decades, burning household products has become regulated, and violators are fined.
Most folks have a moral conscience and would not burn a mattress.
How Do You Destroy a Mattress?
Your mattress will probably end up at a recycling facility where the mattress will be broken down, and it may go through a shredder if the facility is big enough. After shredding, the metal elements will be removed with a magnet and recycled.
Unfortunately, there is not much else in a mattress that can be recycled, and the mattress will end up in local landfills.
If you have a memory foam mattress, you may remove the material cover and then cut the mattress into smaller pieces for easier handling.
How to cut up a memory foam mattress for disposal
Here are some steps you can follow to cut up a memory foam mattress for disposal:
- Gather the necessary tools: You will need a sharp knife or a box cutter, a straight edge (such as a ruler or a straight piece of wood), and a sturdy surface to work on.
- Measure and mark the foam: Use a tape measure to determine the size of the foam pieces you want to cut, and use a marker or chalk to mark the cutting lines on the foam.
- Cut the foam: Using a sharp knife or box cutter, carefully cut along the marked lines. It may be helpful to use a straight edge as a guide to ensure that you get a straight, even cut.
- Repeat the process: Continue cutting the foam into smaller pieces until you have achieved the desired size.
- Dispose of the foam: Once you have cut the foam into smaller pieces, you can dispose of it in a landfill or recycle it if your local recycling facility accepts foam.
It is important to be careful when cutting the foam to avoid injury. Make sure to use a sharp knife or box cutter, and keep your fingers away from the blade. If you are unsure about how to safely cut the foam, it may be best to hire a professional to handle the job for you.
How Do You Get Rid Of Old Mattresses?
You could try to sell your mattress. If your mattress is generally ok, then you might be able to get 20 bucks or more for your mattress.
Many folks lookout for decent used mattresses for the spare room, so if your mattress still has some life in it, let someone else use it.
If your mattress is in reasonable condition, you could give the mattress away. There are lots of organizations that will take your mattress and reuse it.
There are lots of people out there who would love your old mattress.
Because mattresses are bulks and challenging to handle, you can contact the authorities for removal. There is usually a heavy refuse collection schedule, and you may be able to avail this service.
You can hire a waste removal company to come and pick up your mattress, and they will dispose of it for you. The mattress will likely be sent to a recycling facility to recover anything that can be recycled, while the rest will be disposed of in a landfill.
Is It Safe to Burn Memory Foam?
No, never attempt to burn memory foam. It will burn vigorously filling the air with toxicants that will eventually drop on to soil or be inhaled by someone else.
Strict laws prohibit burning mattresses and especially memory foam.
Burning memory foam destroys the soil on the burn site and leaves contaminants for many years to come.
