Navigating Massachusetts’ Mattress Disposal Regulations
Disposing of mattresses has become challenging in Massachusetts, as residents are now prohibited from discarding mattresses and textiles through trash pickup.
Since 1990, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MASSDEP) has forbidden the disposal or transportation for disposal of specific types of waste as a measure to minimize it.
Starting November 2022, this law now encompasses mattresses and textiles. The regulation is specifically aimed at companies generating substantial amounts of waste.
Yet, with a boost from REFURN’s mattress removal services, these companies can turn this hurdle into a money-making opportunity while effortlessly tackling disposal issues for both their customers and their business. Partners can easily incorporate REFURN’s value-added setup and disposal services into their website, utilizing a seamless shopping cart integration (services managed by REFURN).
Massachusetts Disposal Regulations
The recent prohibition introduced by the state’s environmental protection department is a component of a broader regulation known as CMR 310 19.000, focusing on regulations related to local solid waste facilities.
CMR 310, also referred to as the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, encompasses all regulations compiled by the Trial Court Law Libraries. Within CMR 310, section 19.000 is dedicated to solid waste management.
These regulations are designed to safeguard public health, safety, and the environment by providing comprehensive oversight of the storage, transfer, processing, treatment, disposal, use, and reuse of solid waste in Massachusetts.
The state aims for these items and materials to be resold, reused, recycled or repurposed with the objective of minimizing disposed waste from discarded textiles. The overarching goal is to achieve a 90% reduction in this waste by the year 2050.
Did you know❓ According to MASSDEP, over 600,000 mattresses and box springs get discarded annually yet over 75% of their components are recyclable.
Massachusetts waste bans over time
The department initiated disposal and transfer bans on specific items in 1990, implementing regulations pertaining to the landfilling and combustion of recyclable and toxic materials.
Over the years, the agency has progressively introduced additional regulations targeting specific items, resulting in a list of over a dozen items that are prohibited from disposal. The latest regulations also include a ban on the disposal of commercial food materials.
Previously, the agency restricted the disposal and transfer of commercial and food waste from facilities producing one ton or more of waste. The threshold has now been lowered to half a ton as part of increased efforts to minimize food waste.
Items Banned For Disposal in Massachusetts
The banned items for disposal list keeps growing, with everything from textiles to yard debris.
- Glass
- Textiles
- Mattresses
- Yard Waste
- Box Springs
- Whole Tires
- Recyclable Paper
- Metal Containers
- Asphalt Pavement
- Lead Acid Batteries
Local Mattress Recycling For Businesses
For mattress retailers and other furniture companies, this new regulation means you’ll need to pay more 💸💸💸 to get your return merchandise removed, dispose of or recycled.
MASSDEP approximates that the state has the capability to recycle about 460,000 mattresses annually. While they provide municipal grants and state contracts to identify mattress recyclers, local governments are apprehensive about the financial costs and logistical challenges for local businesses.
A mattress retailer would need to invest significant time in locating suitable recycling or donation options (which can be challenging in this state), leaving them with less time for business operations and customer service. Not to mention, they’re left with a bulk amount of mattress returns which take time and manpower to not only process, but also dispose of.
Professionals in the mattress business collaborating with REFURN won’t have to worry about searching for “mattress recyclers near me” online. If dealing with disposal and return logistics isn’t your preference, REFURN’s mattress disposal services in Massachusetts and nationwide provide businesses with the integration, crews, and affordable costs needed to dispose of mattress returns in an eco-friendly manner.
Massachusetts Mattress Disposal Costs
The costs for mattress removal can differ by area, but under Massachusetts’ new regulations, municipalities can impose a fee ranging from $10 to $50 on residents, excluding additional costs such as transportation, fuel prices, and other factors.
For an e-commerce company like a mattress retailer, this poses challenges. Customers who can’t dispose of their old mattress themselves view it as a significant inconvenience, potentially dissuading them from making a purchase.
Mattress companies would need to contact the city and incur out-of-pocket expenses to arrange for the pickup of old mattresses, and they may also need to provide mattress bags for proper disposal.
To adhere to Massachusetts disposal regulations, the company might face fees ranging from $1k to $5k to ensure proper disposal of mattresses.
Handling mattress returns involves complex reverse logistics, and scheduling the pickup of a new mattress for disposal can be challenging to coordinate with your last mile delivery provider’s schedule.
REFURN’s Eco-Friendly Mattress Disposal
Through collaboration with REFURN, there’s no need to ever search “where to recycle textiles?” again or implement a mattress return removal process from the ground up! REFURN’s user-friendly API integration system facilitates companies in managing bulk mattress pickups through our local haulers.
Rather than facing potential losses with each large order, REFURN offers the option of single or recurring bulk pickups, ensuring low costs and maintaining efficient business operations.
How REFURN’s shopping cart integration works
Whether you utilize Shopify, WooCommerce, Big Commerce, or a GraphQL API, our shopping cart integration seamlessly functions across various e-commerce platforms. It effortlessly incorporates removal and/or setup options on checkout for online customers.
Here’s a detailed explanation of how our API integration system operates in conjunction with an e-commerce platform.
- Integrate the API with your shopping cart: Our mattress setup, removal and recycling services can easily be with a SKU number provided by REFURN. Everything else, from content design, marketing and pricing is totally up to you.
- Mattress removal/setup is selected on an order: If a customer places an order and includes our services as the add-on to get rid of an old mattress, we’ll create a schedule request and email the customer to schedule a time that works for them.
- Customers books mattress or other junk removal: The same quality removal service that we provide nationwide is right there for your business to implement to manage returns.
- And.. relax! REFURN has it from here: We can handle all the customer service, scheduling, complaints (if any) and inquries so your company doesn’t have to.
📱 Want to know more? Partner with us by contacting REFURN or call us at (404) 801-3888.
Long-term benefits of API integration in E-commerce
Integrating a system like REFURN’s offers the advantage of convenience. Consumers prefer avoiding the hassle of visiting multiple locations to fulfill their needs, as it consumes time and, in some instances, incurs additional costs.
REFURN’s service ensures that potential customers, particularly those seeking an all-in-one, one-stop-shop experience, can easily discover precisely what they’re looking for. In today’s thriving e-commerce landscape, this convenience holds significant value.
By implementing this system for customers nationwide, e-commerce industries, such as mattress stores, can apply consistent charges for the same convenient services to customers both within and outside of Massachusetts, extending the reach of this streamlined offering.
Beyond the convenience factor, your company has the chance to upsell items for potential profit and process manage returns more efficiently, all while remaining compliant with Massachusetts’ recycling and disposal regulations. Collaborating with REFURN also opens the door to a sustainable business model for the environment. Our Loaders consistently choose the greenest, eco-friendly disposal methods.
So why waste valuable time and energy looking for reliable mattress or textile recycling in Boston or trying to figure out how to get rid of mattresses in Massachusetts, when there is an on-demand service near you that can help?
With everything REFURN offers from bulk return removal and disposal to eco-friendly solutions and a seamless API integration, REFURN is here to help make your business run as efficiently as possible!
