Mattresses kept out of landfill

‘‘A subsidy of about $20 per mattress is required to break even.’’ Report on Rebound Mattress Recycling pilot

About 111 cubic metres of waste have been kept out of Timaru’s landfill during New Zealand’s first mattress recycling project.

The Rebound Mattress Recycling programme – an initiative by Hastings-based recycling specialists 3R Group, designed to rescue resources and lessen the burden on landfills – is hoped to roll out further into Canterbury following a cost analysis of its 12-month Timaru pilot.

This is according to a report the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee will present to the Timaru District Council infrastructure committee meeting tomorrow.

Out of the $10,000 allocated to the pilot, which began at the Redruth Resource Recovery Park in July last year, only $7500 has been spent. ‘‘The budget shows that a subsidy of about $20 per mattress is required to break even,’’ the report says.

About 360 mattresses were diverted from landfill during the pilot, providing about 111 cubic metres of extra space.

At a cost of $70 per cubic metre for the Redruth landfill, the value saved was $7786.

Mattresses in the landfill could take up to 100 years to break down. Meanwhile, their metal springs threatened machinery and their biodegradable parts caused methane gas. ‘‘The project diverts a difficult waste from landfill, offering benefits for improving use of landfill space and less issues of entanglement for landfill operators.’’

Scrap metal, coir or mulch, kindling, and foam salvaged from the mattresses during the pilot was recycled or sold at the Crow’s Nest. The wooden bases and frames were believed to have brought in about $720 in total, the 15 fadge holders of coir about $75.

‘‘It was thought the scrap metal would generate income but due to difficulties in handling, it was agreed the scrap metal dealer would receive it but no payment was able to be made.

‘‘The numbers given for wooden bases and frames and coir are estimates as sales were not well recorded.’’

Only fabric and dirty foam went to landfill, for an 88 per cent diversion rate. An estimated 300,000 mattresses are tossed into landfills each year.