If you’re living in California, Connecticut, or Rhode Island you may notice that there is a Mattress Recycling Fee added to your order, this fee is assessed by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC).

The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) is a nonprofit organization formed by the U.S. mattress industry to operate recycling programs in states that have enacted mattress recycling laws, including California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Rhode Island. Each state’s law requires an industry-led organization—like the MRC—to propose a plan for establishing a mattress recycling program, which is then reviewed and approved by the state. Once approved, the MRC implements and administers the program through its state-specific affiliate companies. These programs are funded by a recycling fee collected at the time of sale, and the MRC currently recycles more than 2 million mattresses annually. The programs may be modified or amended over time in accordance with each state’s laws.

This means the retailer, in this case, Essentia, collects a small fee at checkout for each mattress and foundation sold in any of these states. Then the fees are transferred to the Mattress Recycling Council in that state. 

Why was the Mattress Recycling Council formed?

Mission: Mattress Recycling Council contributes to a sustainable future by developing and implementing innovative mattress recycling solutions.

Vision: Mattress Recycling Council envisions a future in which mattress recycling is universal and economically viable.

    Why do you have to pay this fee even if you don’t plan on discarding a mattress now?

    Even if you aren’t discarding a mattress right now, the idea is that a mattress doesn’t last forever and will eventually need to be discarded.

    What are the benefits of mattress recycling?  

    More than 90% of a mattress can be recycled and made into a new product. Recycling provides a number of important benefits:

    • Conserves resources by making used steel, foam, and other materials available for use in new products.
    • Reduces reliance on incinerators and landfills by diverting mattresses from the waste stream
    • Reduces the number of illegally dumped mattresses
    • Creates recycling jobs

      The Mattress Recycling Council’s goal will be to get more states involved in the program to make a large environmental change.

      Here at Essentia, we know that Mother Nature knows best!

      That's why our natural memory foam and organic mattresses are made using materials that come from the earth, not a chemical plant. Did you know that since our products are sourced from the earth, and returned to it after it's been used? Yup, all Essentia mattresses are also biodegradable when exposed to the elements - wind, rain, sun - consistently over a three-year period. We recognize that most mattresses aren't like this, which is why we think the Mattress Recycling Council's initiative is great.


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