Green Tip of the Day

We throw away about 20 million mattresses each year in the United States - so donating or recycling means smaller landfills (recyclers can separate the fiber, foam, steel, and wood for remanufacturing into - for example - new mattresses). In some areas, trashing your mattress is illegal since they take up so much landfill space; some municipalities require you to recycle.

Check with the store where you're buying your new mattress to see if it offers donation or recycling services for your old one.

Earth 911 - type in mattress and your zip for a nearby recycling drop-spot.

Craigslist and Freecycle - list your mattress for free; chances are someone will want it.

Instructables - DIY instructions on cleaning your mattress before you donate it.