New research highlights stark differences in mattress waste disposal by authorities in East Midlands

It has prompted the launch of a new website to aid consumers keen to recycle as much as possible.

In the midst of the busiest six weeks of the year for UK mattress sales, also the peak time for disposal, the survey data underlines why there is still consumer confusion about how to get rid of an end-of-life mattress responsibly.

Figures showed the East Midlands to be performing below average for diversion from landfill, with 43.2% of councils in the region using this method (national average 25.1%) and for recycling, with 32.4% of councils sending mattress waste to be separated into component parts for reuse (national average 39.9%). Incineration (generating energy from waste) was utilised by 29.7% of councils (national average 36%).

Frontrunner for the region was Rutland County Council, sending mattresses for recycling from both household waste recycling centres and doorstep collections. Derbyshire County Council also performed well, under which all nine local authorities were sending mattresses for recycling from household waste recycling centres. Comparatively, over 35% of councils in the region relied solely on landfill as their main method of disposal from both household waste recycling centres and doorstep collections.

With the survey highlighting the lack of a single, UK-wide resource providing information about how each local authority deals with this type of bulky waste, the National Bed Federation (NBF) which represents the bed industry across the UK, has launched a new free to use portal www.mattressdisposal.co.uk. The website gives insight into how different parts of the UK are disposing of unwanted mattresses and the recycling of their various components, and to signpost consumers to the best options for recycling in their town or city.

Tom Williams, sustainability & circular economy lead for the NBF, said: “Despite growing pressure from consumers for more environmentally-friendly mattress disposal options, it is disappointing to see such disparity across the UK with many regions and nations still a long way from reaching the NBF’s target of 75% mattress diversion from landfill by 2028.