Connecticut today launched the country’s first statewide mattress recycling program. This groundbreaking program – which has become a model for other states – requires retailers to collect a small fee from consumers and use it for mattress recycling efforts. Connecticut’s law passed in 2013. A strong and early proponent, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra led a coalition in support of the bill and worked closely with the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Connecticut local governments, mattress manufacturers, and other stakeholders to develop the recycling program.
Connecticut government officials estimate that municipalities manage over 175,000 discarded mattresses each year. Under this new program, Connecticut retailers will charge a $9 fee at purchase, and the industry-run Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) will contract with companies to collect and recycle the used mattresses, instead of shipping them off to landfills or waste-to-energy facilities for disposal. The program will save local Connecticut governments an estimated $1.3 million a year and give a boost to recycling businesses. “The implementation of this first-in-the-nation mattress stewardship program means previously discarded mattresses will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner, sustaining jobs in Connecticut and resulting in cost savings for municipalities,” said Robert Klee, the Commissioner of Connecticut DEEP. “This program mirrors similar stewardship programs the state has enacted for electronics, paint and thermostats. We thank the Product Stewardship Institute for their important contribution to this initiative and the City of Hartford for their leadership in getting this law passed.”
Since 2010, PSI has worked with local governments in Connecticut and across the U.S. to bring attention to this issue and obtain support for action. Together, PSI and other stakeholders developed potential solutions that provided the foundation for mattress stewardship legislation. Following Connecticut, Rhode Island and California passed similar laws and are developing their mattress recycling programs now. “Thanks to the leadership shown by Mayor Segarra and the CT DEEP, Connecticut has a law that will save governments and taxpayers money, protect the environment, and boost the economy by increasing recycling market opportunities,” said Scott Cassel, Chief Executive Officer of PSI. “We’re proud to have been part of this effort, which will be a model for mattress take-back programs across the country.”
For more information, visit www.productstewardship.us.