New Oregon recycling program keeps more than 130,000 mattresses out of landfills in first year

[ihaveaquestion]

Oregonians kept more than 130,000 mattresses and box springs from landfills during 2025, the first full year of a new statewide recycling program with free collection points in nearly all of the state’s 36 counties.

By Alex Baumhardt -
July 7, 2026 2:21 pm

The Mattress Stewardship Program went into full swing in January 2025, three years after the state Legislature passed a law to make it easier to recycle mattresses and box springs to reduce illegal dumping. To help pay for the program, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality added a $22.50 fee to each new mattress bought by an Oregon shopper online or at stores.

Of the more than 130,000 mattresses and box springs recycled in 2025, about 2,000 were donated and able to be refurbished and reused for bedding, according to a recent announcement from the Virginia-based nonprofit Mattress Recycling Council, which runs the statewide program with oversight from the environmental quality department.

The rest were deconstructed for parts such as wires, foam, and fibers in either Eugene, Portland or Klamath Falls and sent to manufacturers of other products that can reuse the materials for things like carpet padding and home insulation.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/new-oregon-recycling-program-keeps-more-than-130000-mattresses-out-of-landfills-in-first-year/

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. More states should be dong this.

Come on, Virginia, get with it!

[progressoid]

3. Yep.

There are areas running out of landfill space for all of our trash.

[waterwatcher123]

2. We have had this in MN for years too.

Worked with guy who made it happen. It should be required nation-wide (especially in areas with lots of hotels and resorts).