SACRAMENTO — State leaders, environmental regulators, industry partners, and local officials today 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’s 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.
“MRC’s success is rooted in smart, practical legislation and strong partnerships,” said Alison Keane, President of the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) and MRC. “Over 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.”
Keane emphasized that MRC plays a central role in ISPA’s 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.
“California 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,” said Senator Catherine Blakespear. “For ten years, we’ve turned policy into tangible results – giving communities real tools to keep our state clean while strengthening the circular economy.”
California was among the first states in the country to adopt a product stewardship 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.
“Ten years in, California’s Mattress Stewardship Program stands as one of the state’s strongest examples of what extended producer responsibility can deliver,” CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said. “This program shows what government, industry, and communities can accomplish when we share a vision and work together.”
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.
“While our California program continues to deliver strong, measurable results, my focus remains on the future and the long‑term viability of mattress recycling programs as we continue to expand,” said Mike O’Donnell, MRC’s Chief Operating Officer.
Each year, MRC invests $1 million for projects aimed at improving mattress collection, deconstruction and end-market development. O’Donnell 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.
“We are committed to continually improving this program so that it serves Californians well for years to come,” said O’Donnell.
MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress gives Californians with unwanted mattresses and box springs no-cost options for keeping their old ones out of the landfill, for more information on what is available for residents and businesses, visit www.ByeByeMattress.com/California.
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