If you wish to give your bedroom that luxurious hotel touch, adding a box spring to your bed is an excellent choice.
Box springs help elevate your mattress by acting as a sturdy base that can last several years.
The typical lifespan of a box spring is eight to ten years, depending on the quality.
When you feel that your box spring has started sagging or that the slats have broken inside, it is high time to dispose of it and replace it with a new one.
Keep reading further as we do a detailed overview on how to dispose of box springs in the best possible way.
Why Is Safe Disposal Of Box Springs Essential?
According to statistics, 20 to 40 million box springs are dumped in landfills in the USA every year.
These box springs and mattresses occupy around 1 billion sq. ft of space in landfills.
Moreover, it is not easy to break down these massive box springs in the landslides, which creates a lot of space issues in landfills.
Many US cities have now prohibited bid springs disposal, or they charge a hefty fee on it.
Therefore, when it comes to disposing of box springs, you need to ensure that it is done the right way.
You can also recycle your used box springs and do your local landfills a huge favor.
How to Dispose of Box Springs?
Let’s now explore the various methods of safely disposing of box springs:
Method 1 – Local Landfill
The most common way of disposing of a box spring is by giving it off to your local landfill site or transfer station.
You can schedule a pick-up time with the landfill service or drop it off at the location yourself.
Advantages:
- Various landfill sites recycle old box springs, so it is not completely wasted.
- It is a convenient option if you have a local landfill site in your city.
- You can save some extra cash by dropping off your box spring directly at the site.
Disadvantages:
- Logistic costs may be high for box spring pick-up or delivery service if you do it through a third party.
- Some landfill sites charge additional fees for adding box springs to the site.
- This is not the most environmentally-friendly disposal option.
Method 2 – Through a Dumpster Rental Service
Dumpster rental services are becoming increasingly popular in the USA.
You can check your local directory and rent out a dumpster to dispose of large items like box springs and old mattresses.
Advantages:
- You can get rid of multiple items besides a large-sized box spring.
- Some dumpster rental services can be pocket-friendly if you are charged by weight and not size.
- The company takes care of the entire disposal process, saving you time and hassle.
Disadvantages:
- Some dumpster rental services charge by the hour or the day and can get too pricey.
- There is no guarantee that your box spring will get recycled.
- You may face space issues if you live in an apartment.
Method 3 – Via Junk Removal Company
Just like dumpster rental services, you can get in touch with a junk removal company to dispose of your old box spring.
This method is a preferred choice by people for several reasons.
Advantages:
- The junk removal company does all of the grunt work, including lifting, disposal, and disposal.
- You can discard additional items apart from your old box springs.
- Some junk removal companies charge a lower fee for disposing of recyclable items.
Disadvantages:
- There is no guarantee whether your old box spring will end up in a landfill or at a recycling company.
- The pick-up and delivery time may not be according to your schedule.
- If your box spring is too heavy, some junk removal companies may charge extra fees on top.
Method 4 – Through a Local Garbage Pickup Services
Another great option when it comes to the safe disposal of old box springs is to give them away to your local garbage pick-up services.
These services are available in major US cities, and they may collect large items like box springs from your doorstep.
Advantages:
Many local pick-up services offer free services to the people.
You do not have to disturb your schedule for the pick-up time of these services as they can quietly collect your old box spring from outside your house.
You do not have to deal with any hefty tasks as the company takes care of everything.
Disadvantages:
Not all garbage pick-up companies accept large items like box springs, so you have to call and check with them.
The services do not operate regularly, so you have to wait for them to be available.
Other Methods of Disposing of Box Springs
Besides the conventional methods of disposing of old box springs, you can also consider the following options:
Give Your Old Box Spring to Your Local Charity
Many charities accept donations of bedroom accessories like pillows, comforters, bed sheets, etc.
You can also check with your local charity and community center if they are willing to accept a used box spring as a donation.
These charity companies can also provide you with a pick-up service and help you save the additional cost of renting a van to drop it off at the location.
Just make sure that your box spring is in a considerably better condition so it can be accepted as a donation.
Gift Your Old Box Spring to a Friend or Someone in Need
If you do not need to use your old box spring any further, you can gift it to someone who needs it, like a homeless person you know.
Besides this, you can also ask around in your friend’s circle if someone requires a second-hand box spring.
Give Your Old Box Spring to a Recycling Company
A recycling company can do justice to any material, be it something tiny or big like a box spring.
These companies have the right tools and equipment to dismantle the box spring and recycle its various components.
Moreover, you also get to save the planet and contribute to a noble cause by choosing this method.
Can you Recycle Your Box Spring?
Yes, recycling old box springs is a way better option than disposing of them in landfills.
Box springs are made using various materials and different components like wood, metal, fabric, cotton, etc.
The key to recycling box springs is by disassembling them and separating all the useful components. You can then easily recycle or reuse these items individually, ensuring minimal waste production.
Step-by-Step Guide – How to Recycle a Box Spring?
Step 1 – Start Disassembling your Box Spring
The first step is to break down your box spring so you can utilize and make use of its different components.
You will begin disassembling your box spring by flipping its side so you can see all the staples that hold the cloth together.
Step 2 – Remove Staples and Cloth Layer
In this step, you can use a staples pin remover or a plucking knife to extract out all the staples and bottom cloth layer from your box spring.
You will also find a mesh fabric underneath the bottom layer; remove that as well.
Step 3 – Remove All the Wood Slabs
The next step involves removing all the wooden pieces and slabs from the metal frame. For this purpose, you may need a hammer or a crowbar to extract all the wooden slabs.
Be careful while doing this, as you do not want to damage or break the wooden slabs in the process.
Step 4 – Ready for Recycling
After successfully removing all the wooden slabs from your box spring, your dismounting process is completed, and your box spring is now ready for recycling.
So, now you will have the following components that can be recycled individually:
- Fabric
- Wire Mesh
- Wooden slabs
- Metal Frame and Springs
Here is how you can recycle each material:
Recycling Metal
You can donate or sell the metal sprigs and scrapes to a nearby metal yard or metal recycling company.
The company will pay you a standard amount based on the weight of your metal items.
Alternatively, you can also use the metal frame as a DIY plant hanger and hang lightweight plant pots on it.
You can also decorate it with fairy lights and create a cozy corner in your home.
Recycling Wood
The simplest way of recycling broken or small wooden slabs from your box springs is by using them for a bonfire.
Besides this, you can also look up several DIY wooden art projects and use the wooden slabs to create unique artwork.
You can also glue wooden slabs together to create photo frames.
Recycling Mesh Fabric
The mesh fabric works like a charm for preventing weed growth in your backyard or gardens.
In addition to this, you can also dig up Pinterest projects and use Mesh fabric for painting or stamping.
Recycling Cloth Material
Since your box spring is old and rusty by now, the best way to use its fabric is to cut it into small pieces and use it as furniture or upholstery filling.
You can also cut them into small square pieces and use them for cleaning and dusting greasy nooks and corners before you dispose of them.
The Bottom Line
After reading this blog on ‘How to dispose of box spring,’ we hope you will now be convinced that safe disposal of box springs is highly essential.
We have outlined various disposal methods in this blog, but we will still urge everyone to consider all the recycling options first.
If you decide to recycle an old box spring yourself, make sure that you follow all the steps carefully and make the right choice. Good Luck!
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