Michigan Mattress Recyclers, a new business here, aims to keep mattresses out of landfills by recycling bedding components.
The company said that in its first three months of business it has kept “tons” of mattress materials out of landfills.
The mattresses collected by the company are dismantled by hand to separate the components. Once separated, the materials are baled and sent to market to be put back into industrial use. Polyurethane foam, cotton, fabric, wood, and steel are finding new life in the marketplace, officials said.
“Over 90% of the components found within a mattress are recyclable,” said Karen Darner, co-founder of Michigan Mattress Recyclers. “When left in the landfill it takes decades for them to decompose.”
The company says its primary objectives are to create new jobs, divert bulky materials from landfills and to make the environment a cleaner, healthier and safer place in which to live and work.
Consumers can drop off mattresses for recycling for $5 per piece at the facility at 1089 Anna Drive in Gaylord.
The company said it will arrange logistics and transportation services for large recycling projects, including retailers, hotels and universities.