A number of states are considering mattress recycling legislation that would impact mattress manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.
The International Sleep Products Association has a long history of supporting mattress recycling efforts that break down used mattresses and foundations at the end of their useful lives and recycle the components for use in new products, including steel and carpet underlay. Such efforts keep used mattresses out of the hands of unscrupulous renovators and out of landfills, while raising the industry’s stature among consumers.
ISPA opposes state-level recycling legislation when bills are unduly costly, inefficient and burdensome to the mattress industry. Instead, ISPA supports industry- driven, cost-effective solutions that create a level playing field for companies in the mattress industry.
Here’s a rundown of recent legislative action and ISPA’s advocacy efforts:
- California ISPA-supported mattress recycling legislation has been introduced in California. Senate Bill 245 would create an industry-managed mattress recycling program that would be funded by a small fee collected from consumers at retail. ISPA is working with state Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) on the bill, which is an industry-friendly alternative to legislation introduced by state Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Oakland). Hancock’s bill would require mattress manufacturers to set up and fully fund a system to collect and recycle used and illegally dumped mattresses. ISPA defeated similar legislation in California last year. ISPA believes the system proposed by Hancock would be costly and inefficient and would ignore the current infrastructure that exists for collecting used mattresses when new products are delivered to consumers. The state estimates that Hancock’s bill could cost the industry more than $100 million a year.
To support its efforts to enact Correa’s SB 245, ISPA has created a coalition called Californians 4 Mattress Recycling and asks that everyone in the industry who manufactures, operates, sells or has customers in California to join the group at www.ca4mattressrecycling.org. - Connecticut: ISPA recently testified before the Connecticut Joint Environment Committee in support of compromise mattress recycling legislation that ISPA has negotiated with state officials. The legislation authorizes the industry to create an organization that would administer a mattress recycling program in the state. The organization would have the authority to set and collect a small fee at retail on each new mattress sold. Unlike a mattress recycling bill that was unsuccessfully proposed in Connecticut in 2012, manufacturers would not be required to fund such a program. In addition, government intervention has been minimized and the bill contains no unrealistic recycling goals, according to ISPA. The bill is similar in approach to legislation that ISPA is supporting in California.
- Hawaii: The Hawaii legislature is considering a bill that would expand the requirements for electronics recycling, which could include some mattresses. In Hawaii, manufacturers of certain electronic devices are required to fund and administer a program to collect their used products and recycle them. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is pushing for legislation to expand the current law to include any products that contain “an electric motor, heating element or a speaker.” This definition could include some mattresses and adjustable foundations that use electric motors. ISPA is working with electronics trade associations and the Product Management Alliance to alter the definition so that it will not include mattresses and has successfully done so in the Senate. However, the House version of the bill is advancing with the governor’s language. At this time, ISPA is uncertain whether the final legislation will reflect the House or Senate approach.
- Rhode Island: Legislation has been introduced in the Rhode Island House that would require mattress manufacturers to set up a mandatory recycling program for used mattresses. The legislation is identical to a bill introduced earlier in the state Senate. ISPA previously defeated similar legislation in Rhode Island in 2011 and 2012. The new bills differ from previous versions in that they allow for the program to be funded through a fee assessed on consumers instead of requiring manufacturers to pay for the program. However, the bills still include a number of onerous requirements for manufacturers. ISPA has met with the authors of both bills to discuss possible voluntary alternatives to mandatory recycling legislation.
For the latest on mattress recycling legislation and the latest on ISPA’s advocacy efforts, check the ISPA website. ISPA members can find the latest news in the weekly ISPA Insider e-newsletter.
Find a recycler
ISPA maintains a list of more than 30 mattress recycling facilities throughout the United States and Canada that dismantle used mattresses and recycle the reclaimed materials. Most collect a processing fee to help defray the costs of running such operations. Find a mattress recycler in your area using ISPA’s Bye Bye Mattress Recycling Locator.
