MRC Highlights July 2020 Issue

MRC News

Retailer Customer Service Outreach Effort Launched

MRC has launched a new customer service outreach initiative designed to provide support, resources and the latest program details to registered retailer participants. Industry communications specialist, Paris Gholston, will be contacting all retailers in program states via email with a survey and follow-up phone call. Retailers can ask questions, order customer education materials, review obligations, confirm contact information and be sure they are up-to-date with program changes. Outreach is beginning with the state of Rhode Island.

Retailers in that state should be on the lookout for an email from MRC with the survey. We look forward to this opportunity to connect with retailers and provide an added level of service. Retailers can access resources at any time on our website or can email MRC with any questions.

Updated “How To” Videos Offer Guidance on Registering and Remitting

MRC has recently updated its videos designed to guide retailers, producers, renovators and distributors through the registration and remitting processes. Whether you are new to the program or your staff has changed, these resources make it easy to know what to do. The videos are available under the resources tab at MRCreporting.org and on our YouTube channel in both English and Spanish. Additional translations are available upon request. If you are unsure whether you need to register or remit, please review the obligations for the states where you operate.

Customer Education Campaigns Underway

Education and outreach are a big part of MRC’s mission. We recently launched two campaigns with important messaging for mattress purchasers.  The first, #MeetMyMattress, focuses on the value of recycled mattress components. Graphics and messaging share the unexpected places that recycled mattress components end up such as mulch, carpet padding and even the bridges you drive over. A second campaign offers #MattressCare tips for consumers to keep their mattress in great shape until it is time to buy a new one and recycle the old one. Be sure to like and share our messages on social media to help spread the word!

Help Curb Illegal Dumping – Share Our PSA

Across the country, curbside collection and donation centers are straining to meet demand as household waste increases and more time at home leads to the purging of unwanted items. Use our public service announcement to remind your community about the availability of the Bye Bye Mattress program and how easy it is to recycle mattresses responsibly. Always available in English and Spanish in our Media Center, you can view or download the PSA to post on your website or share with your local media to run free of charge. To date, the PSA has more than three million views! Let’s keep it going.

California News

Summer Reminder Offers Useful Tips

MRC recently sent an email to collectors and recyclers in California with important summer reminders. Topics include how to more efficiently stack collected mattresses into trailers, communicate about futons correctly, check your listing on the recycling locator and join our illegal dumping efforts. MRC has resources to help make your role easier. If you missed the email, contact your program coordinator.

MRC Presented at the First Virtual #CHESC

Program and Logistics Coordinator Joy Broussard presented at the first ever virtual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC). She hosted live Q&A sessions about how we work with educational institutions via our Commercial Volume Program to collect and recycle used mattresses. We provide convenient, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly options! Learn more on our Commercial Volume Program page.

Funding Application Open for Communities Targeting Illegal Dumping

The top 20 California communities most affected by illegal dumping (as determined from Illegally Dumped Mattress Collection Initiative reports) are being invited to submit proposals for MRC-funded projects designed to establish or improve 1) education about existing mattress collection channels 2) awareness of illegal dumping laws or 3) mattress drop-off programs. MRC has allocated up to $250,000 for this program and awards will be limited to $100,000 per eligible and accepted project. Additional funding may be released based on the results of the first round of awards.

Invited communities will be contacted by MRC directly with application and budget templates. The deadline for submitting responses is October 23 and MRC expects to award two to three projects before year end. Projects must be completed by December 21, 2021. More information about the program is available on the research page of our website.

Northeast News

Connecticut Program Update Presented

Northeast Program Coordinator Dan McGowan recently presented an update on Connecticut’s mattress recycling program to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Now five years old, the program in Connecticut has recycled more than 775,000 mattresses and has expanded its presence and service across the state. Click here to access the meeting presentation.

MRC Collaborates With #LoveHartford

Earlier this year, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin launched #LoveHartford, an anti-littering campaign to clean up city streets and bolster neighborhood pride. An important tenet of the campaign encourages proper disposal of bulky waste items. Hartford residents can recycle their mattresses via the Hartford Transfer Station, the local Salvation Army and through the city’s curbside collection system.

MRC worked with the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement to use the campaign as a chance to remind residents about the Bye Bye Mattress program. MRC provided the Mayor’s Office with co-branded materials, a newsletter article and social media posts. View the Collection Site Publicity Toolkit for ideas on promoting the program in your area.

Research

Partnership with Covestro Featured in Sustainability Magazine

We are proud to be included in a recent issue of Covestro’s CSR and Sustainability magazine detailing our collaborative efforts to develop a circular economy for mattress foam. Download the issue and read more about our partnership on page 34.

MRC Completes Fluff Analysis

About 25 percent of mattress materials are landfilled because of contamination or lack of viable secondary markets. To better understand the composition of this waste material, MRC prepared a composite sample of shredded mattress quilt, foam, cotton, shoddy and other textiles. Metal from mattress and foundation springs was not included in the sample. This sample was tested for composition, BTU (heat value), burn residuals and suitability for use as a substitute fuel which is a better end use than landfill.  Results were positive with the sample exceeding 12,000 BTU’s/pound. Residual ash was less than five percent by weight. Trace amounts of sulfur and chlorine were observed but at levels that are not considered to be a significant environmental risk. See the full report here.

New Collection Sites

Welcome Palo Verde Valley Disposal

MRC would like to welcome Palo Verde Valley Disposal to the mattress recycling program! They join a list of CR&R operated sites that recycle with us. Visit their listing on the Bye Bye Mattress website for more information.Palo Verde Valley Disposal
14521 S. Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
Mattresses are accepted for recycling Mon.-Fri., 9 am to 12 pm.

Upcoming Events

CRRA Virtual Conference
August 16 – 19, 2020
Website: https://www.crra.com/conference

For Retailers

Customer Education Materials

Samples:

For Collection Site & Event Hosts

Collection Site Hosts:

Find press releases, flyers, site signage and more!

Event Hosts:

Media alerts, flyers, posters, signage and more!

Recyclers in Your Area

California

Businesses need to make arrangements directly with recyclers. Those with at least 100 units may contact Joy Broussard for Commercial Volume Pickup.

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