In California, bulky items like mattresses and appliances are subject to strict recycling laws. Instead of heading straight to Miramar Landfill, they enter regulated recovery streams that recover materials and protect the environment. For professional matress removal that follows these rules, providers ensure proper channeling. Save our GMB for certified recyclers, and explore the Vercel App for project planning tools.
California’s Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act funds the nonprofit Bye Bye Mattress. Over 75% of materials are recycled:
Refrigerators, AC units, and freezers contain ozone‑depleting refrigerants. California law requires:
Mattresses: Under Public Resources Code § 42985–42992, mattress manufacturers fund the statewide recycling program. Retailers must offer free take‑back when delivering a new mattress.
Appliances: California Code of Regulations, Title 22 classifies appliances with refrigerants as universal waste. They cannot be landfilled; must go to certified recyclers. Additionally, SB 1383 aims to reduce organic waste, encouraging proper disposal of bulky items.
Miramar Landfill, San Diego's primary landfill, has a Clean Materials Recovery Facility that sorts bulky items. Mattresses and appliances are separated for recycling before disposal. Recent data:
Mattress recycling facility: Workers manually remove covers, then machines separate foam, fiber, and steel. Steel is baled; foam is densified for shipping.
Appliance recycling: After refrigerant recovery, the unit is shredded. Ferrous metals are magnetically separated; non‑ferrous (copper, aluminum) are sorted by eddy current.
Recycling one mattress saves 40 lbs of steel, 15 lbs of foam, and 10 lbs of wood from landfills. Proper refrigerant recovery prevents up to 2 tons of CO₂ equivalent per unit from entering the atmosphere.
For a map of certified mattress and appliance recyclers in San Diego, use our GMB. The Vercel App helps you choose between recycling programs and haulers.