how to recycle your mattress
the sleep summary:
Around 7 million mattresses are thrown away in the UK every year, but only around a quarter are currently recycled.
Fly-tipping a mattress is illegal and can result in a fine.
The most responsible disposal option for your mattress is to use a professional, accredited recycling service, such as Silentnight's. If your mattress is still in good condition, donating it to charity is another great option and can make a real difference to someone in need. Or your local council's bulky waste collection is a free or low-cost option, though it doesn't always guarantee recycling.
A mattress must be dry, sanitary and in a hygienic state to be collected for recycling as it won't be taken otherwise.
There comes a time when every mattress reaches the end of its lifecycle – maybe it's sagging, uncomfortable or simply doesn’t offer the support it used to. You could be upgrading to a bigger bed or swapping your old mattress for one that better suits your needs. But once you’ve decided to replace it, the question remains: what should you do with your old mattress?
The good news is that there are several options for getting rid of a mattress responsibly in the UK, and one of them - Silentnight's own recycling scheme - is as straightforward as it gets. This guide walks you through our top mattress disposal options, so you can make the choice that's right for you.
The last thing we want is to add more waste to landfills. With over 7 million mattresses discarded annually in the UK, only about 25% of those are recycled. Reducing, reusing and recycling is essential to cutting down on landfill waste, and this includes your old mattress.
At Silentnight, we’re committed to sustainability and responsibly disposing of our mattresses. We not only produce innovative eco-friendly products but also offer a recycling service to take the faff out of disposal once you've got your brand new mattress.
our sustainability pledge
We have always taken its role in environmental friendliness seriously. We’ve even achieved ‘ESG Excellence’ status, something only a handful of organisations have claimed, highlighting our commitment to environmental, social and governance best practices. Our journey towards Net Zero by 2040, backed by our signature in 2021 to the Climate Pledge, shows our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint.
In fact, we were the first British sleep brand to commit to the Climate Pledge and we’re one of the few brands in the sleep industry to join the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As you can imagine, this marked a profound moment in our Net Zero journey, aligning us with the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement: the global goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5ºC. Learn more by reading our sustainability pledge.
certified B Corporation™
Since December 2025, we're proud to be a Certified B Corporation™, proving our dedication to our environmental responsibility, amongst other matters. This proves our transparency, accountability and high, verified standards in how we manage, measure and reduce our ecological footprint across the business.
eco-friendly manufacturing
We’re leading the way in the UK's sleep industry with innovative solutions to make sure products are made and disposed of responsibly. Waste generated throughout our manufacturing process is recycled – with all food, foam, paper, card, polythene film and metal waste going to local and national recycling companies. Our objective is to divert waste from landfills and reduce the amount of harmful toxins and gases released into the atmosphere. One of our key initiatives to reduce waste is to extend the overall life of products and as such, we educate and encourage our customers to extend the life of their mattresses through mattress care.
in-house testing laboratory
We introduced our in-house testing laboratory back in 1980 and to this day, to the best of our knowledge, we remain the only UK Bed Manufacturer to operate our own facilities. Our state-of-the-art testing lab carries out detailed tests across all our products to ensure our customers purchase products which aren’t only of outstanding quality and great value but are designed to last and be recycled. Great progress has also been made to support the recycling of products once they reach end-of-life. We’ve had the pleasure of working with the National Bed Federation and our partners to launch the Mattress Disposal Service, ensuring that your mattress doesn't just end up in a landfill.
how to dispose of a mattress
Our mattress disposal eco-cycle is designed to reduce the environmental impact of our products, conserve resources and support local communities. By choosing to recycle or repurpose your mattress, you're joining Silentnight on our journey toward a sustainable future. Here’s our 3-step eco-process:
1. reduce
Our sustainability efforts start from the ground up. We’re focused on reducing waste, with over 230 tonnes of our manufacturing materials being repurposed every year. These off cuts, once destined for landfills, are now used to create eco-friendly products, including the products in our Naturals collection. By choosing Silentnight, you’re not just buying a mattress - you’re supporting a sustainable future.
2. reuse
Sometimes, your mattress may no longer be the right fit for you, but it might still be in good enough condition to benefit someone else. In cases like these, donating your mattress is a wonderful way to extend its life while helping those in need. Certain charities, like Zarach, accept good-quality mattresses to provide beds for children and families living in poverty. As part of our mission to give everyone a good night’s sleep, we proudly support Zarach’s initiative. Before donating, ensure your mattress is clean and in good condition. If you’re not sure how to keep your mattress in tip-top shape, check out our mattress cleaning article for tips.
Other donation routes worth knowing
The British Heart Foundation - accepts furniture and larger items including mattresses in good condition, with free collection available in many areas.
Local furniture reuse charities - most regions have at least one organisation that collects and redistributes larger items. The Reuse Network has a directory to help you find your nearest.
Shelter and housing charities - organisations supporting people moving into new accommodation often need beds urgently.
Freecycle and Freegle - free community platforms where you list items for local collection. Someone nearby may be very grateful, and it costs nothing.
Olio - a community sharing app where neighbours can claim items, with collection arranged between you.
Facebook Marketplace (free listings) - listing a mattress as free for collection often results in a same-day response.
3. recycle
When a mattress can no longer be used, the last part of our eco-cycle is recycling. Our mattress recycling scheme ensures that every part of the mattress is put to good use. Mattresses collected through our service are stripped down and the materials are repurposed. For further insight, 85% of a mattress has a second life and the remaining 15% is sent for energy recovery. With our recycling programme, you can be confident that your mattress is disposed of responsibly, contributing to a circular economy. All you need to do is:
Add mattress disposal to your basket with your new purchase, or call 0333 123 0892.
Pick a date that suits you.
We’ll take your old mattress away once we’ve delivered your new one.
can you put a mattress in a skip
Most skip hire companies either refuse mattresses entirely or apply a significant surcharge. The reason? Mattresses are bulky, sometimes springy, difficult to compact, and take up a disproportionate amount of space relative to their weight. They also require specialist handling and can't simply be crushed alongside general waste. If you're hiring a skip for a house clearance or renovation and want to include a mattress, always check with the skip company first. Some will accommodate it for an additional fee; others won't take them under any circumstances.
is it illegal to fly-tip a mattress?
Yes - leaving a mattress on public or private land without permission is fly-tipping, a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Fines reach up to £50,000, with prosecution and imprisonment possible in serious cases. Getting rid of an old mattress responsibly doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you recycle it through Silentnight's scheme, donate it to a family who needs it, or take it to the tip - the important thing is that it doesn't end up where too many still do: in landfill, contributing to a problem that's entirely avoidable.
At Silentnight, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. By choosing eco-friendly mattresses and recycling your old ones responsibly, you’re taking steps towards a greener future. We’re committed to providing comfortable, environmentally friendly sleep solutions and we encourage you to join us in our pledge to protect the planet. Ready to make the switch? Discover our full range of eco-friendly mattresses, and when it's time to say goodbye to your old mattress, remember that recycling is just as important as buying sustainably.
