It’s been a great Earth Month, we’ve hit 8 million mattresses recycled, and we’ve been using this moment to educate residents across our program states about the availability and importance of mattress recycling.
In preparation for Earth Day (April 22), we participated in media opportunities to help spread the message about mattress recycling. Our Northeast Program coordinator Dan McGowan spoke with Renee DiNino, host of Community Access, which aired across a family of iHeart radio stations in Connecticut. Dan also joined WICC-AM’s Melissa in the Morning to speak about the program’s work with Park City Green to recycle mattresses. Justine Fallon, MRC’s Director of Operations, joined Dan for an op-ed in CTNewsJunkie.
In California, we worked with local leaders to place op-eds in community news outlets and participated in a handful of virtual events:
- In Oceanside, we joined the Mayor’s Challenge and were among the businesses, organizations, and community members sharing sustainability tips and information on the city’s social media accounts.
- In San Francisco, we were among the supporters behind Marine Science Institute’s Earth Day on the Bay livestream on Facebook.
- California State University, Dominguez Hills hosted a virtual Earth Day festival, and Bye Bye Mattress video content was shared between student and organization presentations.
- Earth Day Fresno live-streamed their event as well, with the Bye Bye Mattress message shared intermittently.
- Bye Bye Mattress was a proud sponsor of Santa Barbara Earth Day, which featured a large variety of live music and other entertainment streamed on their website. Our virtual booth is available through May 30. Check it out!
In addition to this outreach, we’re encouraging use of our “Stop Illegal Dumping” public service announcement (PSA). You can help us spread the word too – use the English or Spanish video in your social media and encourage your local media to air the PSA.
Mattress Industry
Bye Bye Mattress Has a New Number
The Bye Bye Mattress toll-free number recently changed to 1-855-494-8400.
MRC is sending updated information cards to registered retailers in all MRC program states. Please make sure the mailing address is current in your MRC reporting profile no later than April 30. In the meantime, you can download and print the new information card from our resources library.
We apologize for this inconvenience. If you have any questions, contact MRC Customer Relations Specialist, Paris Gholston at info@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org or 1-855-229-1691.
Collection Network
MRC’s Partnership with the California Conservation Corps Grows
MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress program has expanded its relationship with the local conservation corps (LLC) in California to nine of its 14 locations. Since 2016, this partnership has proved to have a positive impact. MRC is providing corpsmembers with job skills by operating mattress collection sites and events in their communities and area residents are provided with additional no-cost option to responsibly recycle their mattresses.
Three of the LLCs are also participating in MRC’s Illegally Dumped Mattress Collection Initiative Pilot. Each LLC will partner will municipalities in their local jurisdiction to remove and track illegally dumped units in their communities.
Read the full press release here.
Effective Collection Site Operations
MRC’s new video in our “How To” Series, Effective Collection Site Operations, features beneficial tips for new and existing California collection sites. A Northeast version will be available soon. This is the third video in our site operations series. All “How To” videos can be found in the Resources section on our website.
Data Due to CalRecycle by May 1, 2021
Mattress recyclers, solid waste facilities and mattress renovators must report 2020 data to CalRecycle by May 1, 2021.
See CalRecycle’s Mattress Annual Reporting webpage for more information.
Research
Watch – Research and Funding Opportunities
Learn more about our research program goals and the types of projects we are interested in funding. View the video here.
New Collection Sites
Welcome CSET – Legacy Processing Facility
10443. W. Legacy Ave.
Visalia, CA 93291
Open to Visalia residents from 9 am to 3 pm Tuesday-Friday and 10 am to 2 pm Saturday. Visit the listing on our recycling locator for more information.
Welcome City of Parlier Public Works Yard
755 Tulare Ave.
Parlier, CA 93648
Open to Parlier residents and businesses from 8 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday. Appointments are preferred for public drop-offs. Visit the listing on our recycling locator for more information.
Upcoming Events
Interzum
May 4-7
Virtual Event
Website: www.interzum.com
MRC participates in the global discussions surrounding more sustainable and environmentally conscious mattress manufacturing methods and presents its latest research opportunities. On Tues., May 4 watch Ryan Trainer and Mike Gallagher discuss “U.S. Mattress Recycling and Research Activities.” Then, on Wed., May 5, Ryan Trainer joins a panel of other bedding and furniture association executives to discuss “The Magic Circle – Mattress Markets in Motion.”