Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
INFORMATION ITEM <br />Memorandum <br />To: Frank Clifton, County Manager <br />From: Gayle Wilson, Director, Solid Waste Management <br />Subject: Mattress Recycling Pilot Final Report <br />Date: April 1, 2013 <br />Beginning February 18 and ending March 6, 2013 the Solid Waste Management Department conducted <br />a pilot mattress recycling project in which we collected and transported 101 dry mattresses and box <br />springs (hereinafter `mattresses) to Mattress Go Round (MGR), a mattress recycler in Greensboro that is <br />now about two years old and expanding rapidly. Those delivering dry mattresses to the landfill during <br />the pilot project were charged the prevailing tipping fees e.g. $10 per car or $22 per pick up and by the <br />ton for anything larger and were directed to a covered staging area on the north side of the landfill. <br />Haulers placed mattresses on pallets by size and from there MGR collected them manually on call in two <br />loads of about 50 each. The pilot project was successful and proved that it is certainly possible the <br />County can continue to accept mattresses and box springs after the landfill closes and transport those <br />items to either MGR for recycling or, if they are not recyclable, to the City of Durham Transfer Station for <br />disposal. <br />Background <br />Once the municipal solid waste landfill closes June 30, mattresses will become more difficult to manage <br />locally as they cannot be placed in the County's construction and demolition landfill and are not <br />accepted at the convenience centers. The County initiated a pilot project to determine if it was possible <br />to get those delivering mattresses to deposit them in a designated area on pallets until they could be <br />collected by a recycler or alternatively deposited in a roll -off dumpster for disposal if unsuitable for <br />recycling. If successful, we could then establish a mattress collection program. <br />A proven mattress recycler, Mattress -Go -Round in Greensboro, was identified and the operation vetted <br />on -site by Solid Waste staff members. The Solid Waste Department and MGR agreed that MGR would <br />transport and recycle the mattresses for $10 each and the County would accept up to two loads to <br />evaluate the program. The concept was that, if possible, mattresses would be separated and held for <br />recycling by this company or other bona fide recyclers. The pilot project was also used to determine <br />possible handling costs and potential problems. <br />--over- <br />