Date: May 6, 2012
Source: International Sleep Products Association
The Connecticut state legislature has passed a bill that would make mattress manufacturers pay for recycling their products. Connecticut could become the first state in the union to do so if the measure becomes law. The state says that old mattresses are a huge problem and that it spends $1.2 million yearly to dispose of about 176,000 mattresses. They clog landfills, do not burn well, and are labor-intensive to recycle, costing on average $40 apiece to do so.
The bill (S.B. No. 89) is designed as an 'extended producer responsibility' law that would require mattress makers to come up with a recycling plan by 2013. Consumers would pay for the program, possibly through fees collected by retailers or through higher prices. In either case, retailers worry it will lead consumers to buy online in order to avoid the recycling fees.
PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2012
Connecticut State Legislature Passes Compromise Mattress Recycling Legislation
The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) reported that the Connecticut Senate reached a compromise on legislation creating a used mattress recycling program, S.B. No. 89, by passing a solution that takes into account fundamental practical issues involved with designing and implementing an entirely new statewide recycling.
ISPA has been working for a number of years to encourage responsible recycling of used mattresses and supports the development of legitimate recycling operations.
"We were able to reach a compromise with the Connecticut legislature on the mattress recycling bill. However, ISPA firmly believes that the best approach to efficient and legitimate mattress recycling lies in federal legislation. A federal recycling program would permit efficiencies and economies of scale that are not possible at a state or local level, applying consistent collection and processing practices across the country, that would benefit all parties concerned by driving down recycling costs for both consumers and manufacturers while also increasing recycling rates," said ISPA President, Ryan Trainer.
Currently, ISPA is leading the push for a federal mattress recycling program. The Association is continuing to advocate for federal legislation with the goal to build a mattress recycling solution that is efficient for both consumers and businesses. To create a program that operates most efficiently, ISPA believes that this can be best achieved
through a national program that addresses the needs of all – consumers, retailers and manufacturers – under one unified, consistent program.
ISPA will continue to do everything it can to help state and local governments address the mattress disposal challenges that many localities are facing while continuing to push for a broad-ranging national solution.
Established in 1915, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress industry. As the industry's trade organization, ISPA represents nearly 700 mattress manufacturers and suppliers throughout the world.
ISPA provides a wide range of services that benefit its membership. These include exclusive industry surveys and statistics, advocacy support, educational offerings, the industry's ISPA EXPO trade show, safety research through its Sleep Products Safety Council, consumer research and education through its Better Sleep Council, BedTimes and Sleep Savvy publications, the ISPAEarth™ Industry Sustainability Initiative, and more.
To learn more, visit www.sleepproducts.org or contact info@sleepproducts.org.
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