Merrimack Valley News

Mattress/Box Spring Recycling Update

Curbside Pickup Option Now Available to Ayer Residents!

Currently, there are no mattress/box spring recycling services offered at the Ayer Transfer Station. However, Town residents will now have the option to schedule curbside pickup instead of having to bring units to a vendor facility. Please read below for more details.

As of November 1, 2022, revisions to the MassDEP waste ban went into effect that no longer allow mattresses, box springs and textiles in the waste stream (i.e., as trash). These items must be recycled. Since then, the Ayer Transfer Station no longer accepts mattresses or box springs.

The Town has worked with Tough Stuff Recycling, a mattress/box spring recycling vendor in Fitchburg, to provide recycling services to the residents of Ayer. Curbside and drop-off services are available beginning March 6, 2023.

The Curbside Process:

1. Schedule and pay for your mattress/box spring curbside pickup through Tough Stuff Recycling’s website: https://order.toughstuffrecycling.com/ (or use QR code)
2. Provide proof-of-purchase to the Ayer DPW to obtain a mattress bag(s) via in-person pickup at the DPW Office (Mon to Fri 7:30AM - 3:30PM) or at the Transfer Station (Wed 7AM-7PM, Sat and Sun 7AM to 3PM).
3. Place the mattress and/or box spring in the mattress bag and locate curbside by 6:00 AM on the day of scheduled pickup.

Additional Notes:

• Mattresses/box springs are required to be placed in mattress bags. Each bag is king size (e.g., they can fit one king size mattress, two twin mattresses, etc.)
• The schedule for mattress pickup varies based on the number of units in the region requested for pickup. The vendor will contact the resident with the date of the pickup.
• Cost for curbside service is $55.

Option for Drop-off at Tough Stuff’s Facility:

The Tough Stuff Recycling Facility is located at 145 Authority Drive, Fitchburg, MA. Residents may drop off their units Monday - Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm. The drop off fee is $30 per unit and can be pre-paid on the website or paid in person at the facility.

*Condition of Mattresses/Box Springs* Note units must be conforming to the below recycling guidelines or additional fees may be incurred.

• Free of human bodily fluids or contamination
• Free of bed bugs or other insects/vermin
• Not heavily soiled, mildewed, wet, or subject to damage as a result of being in the elements of Rain or Snow for any given amount of time
• Mattress must be placed in a mattress bag to protect it from the elements and ensure safe handling for our curbside team. We ask that you tape the opening to secure the unit inside.

Additional information can be found here: https://toughstuffrecycling.com/faq/

Textile Recycling Information

• What are textiles? The MassDEP recycling definition is “clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products, except for textiles that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.” 
• Textiles go into donation containers – located along the right side of the Transfer Station as you enter.
  • They never go into the recycling stream.
  • They do not belong in the trash, unless they are contaminated.
• Textiles aren’t “recycled” the same way as cans, bottles, and paper. They must be separated and handled by organizations that know how to sort them for three types of use: resale as second-hand clothing; cutting into shop rags; and shredding into fiber for insulation, carpet padding, and soundproofing.

Original source can be found here.