Laiotz | stock.adobe.com
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has authorized the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), Alexandria, Virginia, to establish and administer a statewide mattress recycling program in the state. Oregon DEQ approved a modified operating plan, including a budget and stewardship assessment to fund the program.
The program will begin Jan. 1, 2025, and will be funded by a $22.50 per unit DEQ-approved stewardship assessment collected on the sale of each mattress and foundation sold for use in Oregon.
“With our nearly 10 years of experience in administering our existing state programs, we’re ready to bring mattress recycling to Oregon,” MRC Chief Operating Officer Mike O’Donnell says. “We appreciate the support of the solid waste and recycling community, mattress manufacturers and retailers which has resulted in MRC recycling over 13 million mattresses through our state programs.”
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Before the Oregon program begins, retailers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and renovators of mattresses and foundations sold for use in Oregon must register their business with MRC. Those selling these products to end-users—individual consumers or large-volume buyers—must also be prepared starting Jan. 1, 2025, to collect the $22.50 per unit stewardship assessment, and displaying that amount as a line item on the receipt, invoice or other sales documentation that the seller provides the purchaser.
“MRC encourages the mattress industry, solid waste facilities and other interested parties to learn about this program and understand their role in a successful recycling program,” O’Donnell says. “We offer a library of resources and have a wonderful team ready to answer your questions.”
Between now and the program’s launch Jan. 1, MRC plans to implement a statewide network to collect and recycle discarded mattresses from communities and businesses across Oregon and to publicize the legal obligations of different parties in the mattress distribution chain.
MRC says it will soon contact solid waste haulers and recyclers interested in serving as MRC drop-off locations.
As the program launch date approaches, MRC will provide retailers with information about the program to provide to mattress purchasers at the point of sale. MRC also will publicize how residents and businesses can access mattress drop-off locations.
