Long Beach Launches 24/7 Mattress Recycling Pilot Program

LONG BEACH, CA — Looking to get rid of an old mattress? The Long Beach Public Health Department will take them out of your hands as part of a new pilot program.

The 90-day program allows residents to drop off and recycle their used mattresses in a designated area 24 hours a day seven days a week. The designated site is located at 970 W. Chester Pl., where they will be stored until they are taken to a recycling facility.

“This pilot mattress drop-off program will offer our community more opportunities to responsibly dispose of their used mattresses,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By offering round-the-clock access, we are making it easier for residents to reduce waste and make a positive environmental impact.”

Over 75 percent of mattress components can be recycled once cut open and separated into steel, foam, fiber and wood. The city's program will help reduce waste and illegal dumping while diverting mattresses from landfills.

According to the city, about 18,000 mattresses are illegally dumped in Long Beach annually.

The new program will operate in tandem with the monthly drop-off events that already exist. After the completion of the 90 days on Oct. 29, staff will assess the pilot's success and determine if it will continue.