Truck & RV Mattress Disposal Guide
In general, mattresses last for 7-10 years, with some lasting for a longer or shorter period of time depending upon the material, quality, and care of your mattress. SleepDog® mattresses tend to outlast other truck and RV mattresses and come with a 10-year warranty to ensure their quality and durability. In this guide, we outline a range of truck and RV mattress disposal methods that may work for you.
Signs You Need a New Mattress
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Body Pain or Aches
If you wake up feeling sore, it may be the result of a deteriorating mattress. While other factors can influence how you feel in the morning, such as your sleep position and the firmness or softness of your mattress, a mattress in good condition should not be causing you pain.
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Fatigue
If your mattress is no longer doing its job properly, you may suffer a lack of sleep and wake up feeling poorly rested or fatigued during the day.
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Sagging
When the material or padding of your mattress has softened over time, it begins to sag or sink, offering less support than it used to.
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Wear & Tear
If you notice rips, holes, or stubborn stains in your mattress, these can all be signs that’s it time to recycle it and buy a new one.
Ways to Properly Dispose of Your Truck or RV Mattress
Recycle
If your mattress is displaying some of the signs listed above, you can always recycle it. Some states even require you to recycle your mattress because mattresses which are left for trash pickup can be detrimental to the environment. Across the U.S., there are many companies and programs which make mattress recycling easy and low-cost, if not free.
- Bye Bye Mattress, a program established in the three states which have mattress recycling laws (California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), is our most-recommended option to recycle your truck or RV mattress.
- Earth 911 provides a national search engine to help you find a recycling center near you that will accept mattresses.
- The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), a resource for the states which have mattress recycling laws, also offers suggestions for how to recycle your truck or RV mattress. Bye Bye Mattress is a program of MRC.
Donate
If your mattress is still in good shape (no stains, mold, etc.), consider donating it. Whether you give your old mattress to a fellow trucker or RVer or donate it to a reputable organization or local shelter, mattress donations can help others while keeping mattresses out of landfills.
Alternatively, some colleges and universities collect mattresses and furniture at the end of each academic year to give to students who will need them for the next semester. You can check with nearby universities to see if they have a program like this.
For more information on mattress donations check out the DonationTown online database to find other local companies which offer mattress donation services.
Resell
If your mattress is in good condition, you can find buyers on websites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp. Alternatively, if you’re looking to give away your mattress but don’t necessarily need to sell it, freecycle.org offers an online exchange of items for free.
Repurpose
If you have the time and creativity, you can repurpose your mattress through DIY crafts. Mattresses are almost 100% recyclable and come with useful parts such as wood, metal springs, fibers, and memory foam that can be used to manufacture or create new items like other furnishings, firewood, or mulch.
If you choose to repurpose your mattress, be aware of any sharp pieces. We recommend watching a tutorial video before undertaking a project like this.
If your truck or RV mattress is displaying the signs that it’s time to say goodbye, the team at SleepDog® is here to help you properly dispose of it and answer any questions you may have. The tips and tricks offered in this guide are meant to offer a variety of ideas for how you can dispose of your mattress in a way that is beneficial for both people and planet.