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Sep 10

Mattress and Bulky Item Disposal

Posted on September 10, 2020 at 8:09 AM by Natalie Nebilak


At some point in our lives, many of us will experience an excess of bulky items that cannot go out with the regular trash. Be it old bed frames, mattresses, broken appliances, tires...and on and on. How are we supposed to dispose of these items if they can't go out with the trash? Below is a list of resources to dispose of your bulky unwanted items.

mattress

Mattresses 
Mattresses take up to 800 million cubic feet in landfills and can take up to 120 years for a single mattress to decompose. In an effort to keep mattresses out of landfills, consider these options before you take your mattress to the dump.
  1. When you purchase a new mattress, it is a common practice for retailers to haul away your old mattress while delivering your new one.
  2. However, if this is not an option or you have an extra mattress that you wish to dispose of, you can visit Bye Bye Mattresses to find a recycler near you. For City for Ventura Residents, the closest mattress recycling center is Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station which allows one set (mattress and boxspring) per year to be recycled for free.
  3. If these two options do not work for you and you need your mattress disposed of, DO NOT set it on the curb with your trash bin. In order to properly dispose of old mattresses, schedule a Bulky Item Pickup from E.J. Harrison, the City of Ventura's trash collection service.
In an effort to extend the life of a mattress and keep it out of the landfill, try these tips to keep them in good shape:
  • Put the mattress on a supportive foundation
  • Use a mattress pad or protector
  • Rotate your mattress every 3 - 4 months
  • Wash your sheets weekly
  • Vacuum your mattress a few times a year
Good upkeep of a mattress doesn't just keep your bed smelling fresh and clean, it also prevents sweat and body oils from breaking down mattress fibres. 

couch

Furniture and Appliances
As with mattresses, we cannot set out old furniture or appliances on the curb with our trash bins. Instead of hauling these bulky items off to the dump, consider donating gently used furniture and appliances to these local second hand stores:
If items are too damaged to be donated, you can schedule a Bulky Item Pickup from E. J. Harrison. They offer two free bulky item pick ups per year with up to four items total per year.