TIME-SENSITIVE: YOUR REQUIREMENTS UNDER CONNECTICUT PUBLIC ACT 13-42, RELATING TO MATTRESS RECYCLING
In May 2013, Connecticut enacted Public Act 13-42, which requires the mattress industry to establish a mattress recycling program in the state. To meet this requirement, the International Sleep Products Association, the trade association for the mattress industry, created a non-profit organization, Mattress Recycling Council (MRC). MRC serves as the organization required by the law to plan and implement that state’s mattress recycling program.
Public Act 13-42, requires all mattress and mattress foundation producers, renovators and importers selling or distributing mattresses in Connecticut to join MRC by July 1, 2014. To join MRC, you must register with the organization at www.mrcreporting.org. There is no cost to join the MRC and registration information will only be used by MRC and the state to determine compliance with the requirements of the law.
FAILURE TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT PROHIBITS YOU FROM SELLING MATTRESSES IN CONNECTICUT.
For further information see Public Act 13-42 which, in part, states:
Sec. 1 (8)”Mattress” means any resilient material or combination of materials that is enclosed by a ticking, that is used alone or in combination with other products, and that is intended for or promoted for sleeping upon. “Mattress” includes any foundation, renovated foundation or renovated mattress. “Mattress” does not include any of the following: (A) An unattached mattress pad, an unattached mattress topper, including any item with resilient filling, with our without ticking, that is intended to be used with or on top of a mattress, (B) a sleeping bag or pillow, (C) a car bed, (D) juvenile products, including a carriage, basket, dressing table, stroller, playpen, infant carrier, lounge pad, crib bumper and any pad for such juvenile product, (E) a product that contains liquid or gaseous filled ticking, including any water bed or any air mattress that does not contain upholstery material between the ticking and the mattress core, or (F) any upholstered furniture that does not otherwise contain a detachable mattress, including, but not limited, to a fold-out sofa bed or a futon;
Sec. 1 (15) “Producer” means any person who manufactures or renovates a mattress that is sold, offered for sale or distributed in the state under the producer’s own name or brand. “Producer” includes (A) the owner of a trademark or brand under which a mattress is sold, offered for sale or distributed in this state, whether or not such trademark or brand is registered in this state, and (B) any person who imports a mattress into the United States that is sold or offered for sale in this state and that is manufactured or renovated by a person who does not have a presence in the United States;
Sec. 2. (a) On or before July 1, 2014, each producer, or such producer’s designee, shall join the mattress recycling council and by said date such council shall submit a plan, for the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection’s approval, to establish a state-wide mattress stewardship program, as described in this subsection.
Sec. 2. (i) …Any producer who fails to participate in such program shall not sell mattresses in this state.
For questions please visit www.mattressrecyclingcouncil.org or contact Mike O’Donnell, MRC Program Director, at mikeo@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org