with Chris Bradley and Joe Lowery, both of Carpenter Co.
State leaders, environmental regulators, industry partners, and local officials recently gathered at the Capitol of California to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Mattress Recycling Council, marking a decade of environmental progress made possible by California’s landmark mattress recycling law.
Since launching operations in California on Dec. 31, 2015, MRC has recycled more than 14 million mattresses, diverting more than 555 million pounds of material from the state’s landfills and building one of the most comprehensive product stewardship programs in the nation.
“MRC’s success is rooted in smart, practical legislation and strong partnerships,” says Alison Keane, president of the International Sleep Products Association and MRC. “Over the past decade, this program has not only delivered outstanding recycling outcomes, but it has also educated manufacturers about better designs to make their products more sustainable.”
Keane emphasizes that MRC plays a central role in ISPA’s broader sustainability initiatives, including facilitating industry working groups comprised of recyclers, manufacturers, component suppliers, and designers, and developing the Sleep Products Sustainability Program, which provides California bedding manufacturers a framework for reducing their environmental impacts.
“California has long prided itself on being an environmental trailblazer, and this program proves what happens when thoughtful policy is paired with strong oversight and industry accountability,” says state Sen. Catherine Blakespear. “For 10 years, we’ve turned policy into tangible results—giving communities real tools to keep our state clean while strengthening the circular economy.”
California was among the first states in the country to adopt a product stewardship framework for mattresses. Under the oversight of California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the program has become a national model for transparency, data-driven performance, and collaboration with local governments.
“Ten years in, California’s Mattress Stewardship Program stands as one of the state’s strongest examples of what extended producer responsibility can deliver,” CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller says. “This program shows what government, industry, and communities can accomplish when we share a vision and work together.”
Operationally, the program offers mattress recycling access in every corner of the state through 247 participating collection sites, 88 curbside programs, dozens of collection events, and retailers offering free take-back from consumers.
“While our California program continues to deliver strong, measurable results, my focus remains on the future and the long-term viability of mattress recycling programs as we continue to expand,” says Mike O’Donnell, MRC’s chief operating officer.
Each year, MRC invests $1 million in projects aimed at improving mattress collection, deconstruction, and end-market development. Several successful projects focus on developing new uses for old polyurethane foam, which can be:
- Recycled into moldable pellets for use in synthetic leather or other flexible polymer products.
- Ground into a sand-like powder for use as a lightweight additive in construction materials or foam.
- Modified to significantly enhance its absorbent properties for use in oil spill clean-up applications.
“We are committed to continually improving this program so that it serves Californians well for years to come,” says O’Donnell.
For more information about MRC’s California Bye Bye Mattress program and the no-cost options that are available to residents and businesses, visit ByeByeMattress.com/California.
