Recycling Mattresses

Mattresses are something you’ll find in most homes. There’s a reason why many people only see and sleep on a few mattresses in their lives. For one, mattresses are an investment. Another factor is that mattresses are a large, bulky item. While you may not notice it while you’re sleeping and in the daily notions of life, you’ll definitely notice when it’s time to dispose of a mattress. There isn’t really a set guideline for when to get a new mattress, and the timing will change for everyone. Once you decide that you need a new mattress, do you know what your options are for disposing of it? First, let’s begin with some indicators that the time has come to dispose your current mattress.

Some common scenarios you may experience that signal it’s time for a new mattress are:

• You wake up feeling tired and/or achy on most days.
• Your mattress feels less than comfortable. Maybe it’s too hard, too lumpy, or too saggy.
• If you’re getting older and recognizing that your body is having new pains or having new trouble sleeping.
• If you’ve tried rotating your mattress (if it’s double-sided) and it doesn’t help.
• If you feel like you’re sinking in a hole shaped like your body every time you crawl into bed.

The Recycling Choice

So you’ve made up your mind. It’s time for a new mattress. What this also means is that it’s time for a plan to get rid of the old one. While it may be tempting to take your old mattress to the nearest landfill or leave it outside the dumpster in your neighborhood, did you know that mattresses are actually recyclable? In fact, over 80% of the materials in a mattress can be recycled but aren’t. The thing about recycling a mattress is that it takes time, knowledge, and correct equipment. You can’t throw it in the recycling dumpster and trust it’ll be handled.

At Gold Circuit E-Cycling, mattress recycling is one of our specialties. We are able to take mattresses and box springs and recycle the parts that can be recycled. Mattresses are layers and should be recycled just the same. Our team cuts mattresses open and separates into the various layers that go on to live out new purposes. The Polyurethane Foam and Grey Felt Blankets are used for later baling, the Metal springs are recycled into scrap steel, and the wood and mattress toppers are sent to wood/textile recyclers. Some wood is recycled and used as a fuel source. The foam padding can be used to make carpet underlayment or animal bed pads, amongst other things. We ensure that the process is handled from start to finish, completing all we’re able to in-house to make sure your disposal is environmentally-conscious and effective.

The Cost to Recycle Mattresses

Our price for each mattress and box spring is $20.00 per piece. Not only will this save you fees from going to the landfill, but you will also have peace of mind knowing that you are making a decision that is kind to the environment. You are helping 80% of the mattress go on to serve other purposes and get reused somewhere new. By recycling, you’re helping to aid in the conservation of resources.

As a note, please be advised that we can only accept mattresses that are clean, dry, and free from any insects, bedbugs, etc. We reserve the right to turn away any mattress we feel could be contaminated.

Making the Choice

Statistics show that on average, 50,000 mattresses end up in landfills every day. By choosing to take your old mattress to Gold Circuit E-Cycling for proper recycling, you can cut down that number and make a difference. We know disposing of a mattress isn’t fun, but we’re here to make it as easy as possible for you.

Have questions? Want to talk about how recycling your mattress is the best option for you? Give us a call today at 888-283-0007.

Reducing The Amount of Trash You Produce

On average, each American produces more than 4 pounds of trash per day. Sounds shocking, right? With that being said, only 37% of that amount is actually recycled. The rest goes on to live its days at a landfill. So, what can you do about this? There are actually many things that consumers can do to not only reduce the amount of trash they produce, but also to help the environment. Today, we’re outlining some practical ways to reduce the amount of trash you produce so that you can do yourself and the environment a favor!

1) Create a Solid Recycling System in Your Home

If something is right in front of you, it’s easier to not ignore. Do you have a recycling system set up in your home? Maybe it’s separate bins for recycled versus trash, or maybe it’s a compost pile (which we’ll cover later). Either way, get the family or roommates on board and make a recycling plan. Have you read through our website for items we can recycle? You may not even know that we can take care of household items like furniture and old electronics. Next time you go to throw something away, take a moment to think about it. Is this something that you can recycle either on your own or with our help, or is this something that belongs at the landfill?

2) Improve the Recycling System in Your Office

While we may make recycling and reduction of waste in our home a priority, it’s essential to make sure this also transfers into our life outside of the home. Does your office or place of work have a good recycling system in place or does everything go in one bin and head to the landfill? If you’re not sure, talk to your Human Resources contact to get the right information for whom to talk to about this topic. You might think that just one person wouldn’t have a large effect, but you can cause a ripple effect amongst your co-workers!

3) Start Composting

One way to reduce the amount of waste that goes to a landfill is through starting a compost pile. Things you normally might put in the trash, such as fruit and vegetable pieces, old plants, and leaves and grass from your yard, can be made into a new concoction perfect for your soil. Composting allows you to reduce the amount of trash you produce while helping your garden. If you don’t personally garden, you can get in touch with someone who does. Learn more about creating a compost pile here.

4) Invest in Reusable items

When you think about the amount of things you throw away each day, how much of it is one-time use plastic? Things like grocery bags are easily replaced with reusable bags that you can keep in your car and take with you on your next shopping trip. If you find yourself realizing you and your family use a lot of plastic bags for food and other small items, try investing in reusable silicone sandwich and snack bags. Another way to reduce your consumption is by carrying a reusable water bottle around with you to limit the amount of disposable water bottles you go through.

If you go out to eat frequently, consider bringing your own reusable containers with you. For example, if you go out to Starbucks for coffee every morning, bring your own reusable travel mug rather than going through a plastic or paper cup a day. If you eat out at restaurants you know you will have leftovers from, try bringing your own reusable container to take them home rather than bringing home Styrofoam.

Small changes like buying items in glass jars versus plastic containers can make a big impact on your consumption as well. If you enjoy reading the newspaper each day or getting a monthly magazine, try switching to an online version instead. No matter what your interests are, there are multitudes of ways to cut down on the trash you produce and help our environment.

5) Always Keep Learning

New ways of doing things happen all the time. It’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest in recycling and ways to reduce our consumption of waste. Follow along with us on Instagram and Facebook for tips, tricks, and information on being more conscious of what you put out into the world. You can also read through past blog posts to find more details on certain subjects and how you can recycle things you may have never thought of.

It’s important that we all do our part. One small step forward can cause a huge change in your trash production. Imagine if we all took small steps forward.

Have questions? We’re here to help in any way we can. We’re passionate about what we do and look forward to helping you and your family recycle more and contribute less to your nearest landfill.

Holiday Recycling Services

It’s official…the holiday season has begun! While this brings about packed schedules and stressful shopping experiences, it’s also a time for family. One way people often show their love during the holiday season is through giving family and friends holiday gifts. From stocking stuffers to new clothes, one thing often stands out among the rest. After Black Friday deals around Thanksgiving, you may have seen images of big box stores flooded with people. What are those popular items that are frantically brought to save for a holiday gift? Electronics.  

Out with the old…in with the new. A new television, that is!

An updated television can bring about excitement. Whether you gift a television to a loved one or you receive it yourself, it’s a new way to view your favorite Netflix binge or watch the latest movies. With a better screen, better color, and better sound, you may find it’s not hard at all to get rid of that old television set. Before you toss it out on the curb or think about taking it to the dump, consider another option…recycling them with us! Here’s the thing…recycling is the right thing to do. While, yes, it may seem easier to just dump the television onto the curb, recycling is a way to not only protect the environment from harmful chemicals, but also to properly recycle the bits and pieces that make it work. You can find more information about our television recycling services here. Our fee for recycling televisions is $20. You can feel good knowing that you’re doing the right thing while making room for the new television in your life.

Recycling old computers and laptops.

Another popular item on gift lists each year is a computer. Laptops and monitors are also on this list, and an updated way to browse the web can leave you ready to toss your old computer or laptop in the trash. Bringing your old computer, laptop, or monitor to us ensures that it can be safely and properly recycled. We even have state of the art technology to completely discard hard drives and other personal and private information carriers. This ensures that your private information cannot be stolen after you dispose of your computers and laptops. Computers and laptops are full of plastics and metals that could be recycled and reused. Recycling an electronic is not an easy task, which is why its essential you leave it to the experts. At our low price of $10 for computers and laptops and $20 for monitors, it’s both affordable and the responsible thing to do.

Recycling the boxes the gifts came in.

With all of the new electronic gifts received, you may find yourself with piles of empty boxes and Styrofoam. At Gold Circuit E-Cycling, we offer FREE recycling of all cardboard. Bring in all of your boxes as you bring in your old electronics to recycle. You’ll be able to handle it all and clear the space in your house in one trip. We offer free Styrofoam recycling to residential customers with some exceptions that you can read about here. Please note that we don’t accept colored foam or packing peanuts.

Helping the environment for the holidays.

Not only will recycling your old electronics make room for the new ones, but it will also help you do your part in keeping our environment a clean place. You’ll play your role in keeping harmful chemicals out of the soil and allow us the opportunity to recycle the parts of your old electronics that can be reused. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 888-283-0007. We’ll be ready and waiting to help you make room for new electronics this holiday season!

Keep Your Cool: Recycling Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers

With the holidays approaching and the air getting cooler, it’s that time of year again. While, yes, it’s the time of year for hot chocolate and sledding, we mean something different here at Gold Circuit E-Cycling. At this time of year, we get an influx of old air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Because of the changing seasons, clients are taking window units out or replacing old systems. We want to make sure that all of our clients are informed about the importance of responsibly recycling these units. They contain refrigerant, which can have harmful effects on more than we might think.

 What We Accept

At Gold Circuit E-cycling, we accept any and all air conditioner and dehumidifier units. While these items normally have a price of $20 to recycle, we have recently lowered it to $10 to ensure that they are responsibly disposed of. All you need to do is bring them in to us, and we’ll do the rest of the work. What is so important about this?  

Refrigerant Recovery & Recycling

The most important thing to note about recycling these units is that they contain refrigerant. Refrigerant is a substance that is used for refrigeration and R-22 is the most frequently used type of refrigerant found in today’s CFC & HCFC devices. While an essential substance for these units, it also has a global warming potential that is 1,800 times that of carbon dioxide. With newer units, a high-pressure 410a gas is being used more frequently than the R-22, as R-22 can no longer be legally manufactured. What this means is that more of the units containing R-22 are being recycled or disposed of as people upgrade to newer units.

The Process

When we receive a unit to be recycled, we must first recover the refrigerant. We dismantle the unit for disposal and are required by law to take out the refrigerant and dispose of it separately. We move the refrigerant into a separate container and then decide the best route for its use. If the recycled refrigerant can be stripped of any impurities and meets purity standards, it can possibly be recycled and used with other pieces of equipment. Once the unit has been dismantled, plastic and metal parts are sorted and either recycled or disposed of.  

Importance of Recycling 

Since the R-22 gas is no longer legally made, the demand for it may rise, giving the opportunity to responsibly recycle this refrigerant for other uses. Our trained professionals make this decision on a case-by-case basis. Responsibly recycling these units is especially important for our environment.  R-22, if not properly used or disposed of, can affect the O-Zone layer, causing harmful effects on our environment. Refrigerant is not a substance we want sitting out at a landfill or seeping into the ground. They can also release harmful greenhouse gases with their global warming potential as stated earlier in the post.

We do our best to make it as easy on you as possible to drop off your units that need to be recycled. If we all do our part, we can protect the environment and the world around us each day. One small way to do that is through responsible recycling. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We’d love to share more information with you and answer any questions you may have.

We’d also like to remind you that we are now offering a HALF off deal on our air conditioner and dehumidifier units to make it even easier to recycle these units before the impending holiday season. This is a deal you’ll want to take advantage of!

You can reach out to us via phone (call or text) at 1-888-283-0007. We’re here to help you navigate the world of e-cycling.