State leaders, environmental regulators, industry partners, and local officials gathered at the California State Capitol to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), marking a decade of environmental progress made possible by California鈥檚 landmark mattress recycling law.
Since launching statewide operations on December 31, 2015, MRC has recycled more than 14 million mattresses, diverting over 555 million pounds of material from California landfills and building one of the most comprehensive product stewardship programs in the nation.
鈥淢RC鈥檚 success is rooted in smart, practical legislation and strong partnerships,鈥� said Alison Keane, President of the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) and MRC. 鈥淥ver the past decade, this program has not only delivered outstanding recycling outcomes, it has also educated manufacturers about better designs to make their products more sustainable.鈥�
Keane emphasized that MRC plays a central role in ISPA鈥檚 broader sustainability initiatives, including facilitating industry working groups comprised of recyclers, manufacturers, component suppliers and designers, and developing the Sleep Products Sustainability Program, which provides California bedding manufacturers a framework for reducing their environmental impacts.
鈥淐alifornia has long prided itself on being an environmental trailblazer, and this program proves what happens when thoughtful policy is paired with strong oversight and industry accountability,鈥� said Senator Catherine Blakespear. 鈥淔or ten years, we鈥檝e turned policy into tangible results 鈥� giving communities real tools to keep our state clean while strengthening the circular economy.鈥�
California was among the first states in the country to adopt a product stewardship 聽framework for mattresses. Under the oversight of California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the program has become a national model for transparency, data-driven performance, and collaboration with local governments.
鈥淭en years in, California鈥檚 Mattress Stewardship Program stands as one of the state鈥檚 strongest examples of what extended producer responsibility can deliver,鈥� CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said. 鈥淭his program shows what government, industry, and communities can accomplish when we share a vision and work together.鈥�
Operationally, the program offers mattress recycling access in every corner of the state through 247 participating collection sites, 88 curbside programs, dozens of collection events, and retailers offering free take-back from consumers.
鈥淲hile our California program continues to deliver strong, measurable results, my focus remains on the future and the long鈥憈erm viability of mattress recycling programs as we continue to expand,鈥� said Mike O鈥橠onnell, MRC鈥檚 Chief Operating Officer.
Each year, MRC invests $1 million for projects aimed at improving mattress collection, deconstruction and end-market development. O鈥橠onnell highlighted several focused on developing new uses for old polyurethane foam. Successful projects funded by MRC have demonstrated that foam can be:
- Recycled into moldable pellets for use in synthetic leather or other flexible polymer products
- Ground into a sand-like powder for use as a lightweight additive in construction materials or foam.
- Modified to significantly enhance its absorbent properties for use in oil spill clean-up applications.
鈥淲e are committed to continually improving this program so that it serves Californians well for years to come,鈥� said O鈥橠onnell.