SWAMPSCOTT ― The Town of Swampscott started a new mattress-recycling program on Monday that offers residents the opportunity to purchase mattress-recycling stickers and place their mattress and/or box springs curbside on a predetermined pick-up date.
Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Energy & Protection’s (MassDEP) Mattress-Recycling Incentive grant, stickers can be purchased for $20 from the town’s website or on-site at Town Hall during normal business hours.
Mattresses will be picked up by the town Department of Public Works on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Mattresses must not block the sidewalk and should not be placed out more than 24 hours in advance of pick-up.
Only one sticker needs to be purchased for joint mattress- and box-spring disposal, and mattresses will no longer be accepted as part of the bulk-item program.
According to MassDEP, more than 75 percent of mattress components can be recycled.
For example, foam padding can be turned into carpet or animal-bed padding, wooden frames can be shredded to produce landscaping mulch, and springs can be recycled as metal scrap or used to make new building materials.
As part of its 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan ― which establishes goals to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent over the next 10 years ― MassDEP outlines a strategy for banning mattress and textiles from regular disposal.
This program joins a growing list of waste-reduction programs offered by Swampscott, including composting, metal recycling, textile recycling, and more.
For more information about the program, visit www.swampscottma.gov or call 781-596-8850.
