Twenty-Three - Box Spring / Mattress Recycle

No matter where you go in Atlanta, just about every other day Guthrie and I would see a discarded mattress on the side of the road. More locally, according to MPR, Minnesotans purchase more than 600,000 mattresses a year. They also mention how you can recycle mattress and box springs through Goodwill Industries in Duluth so that some parts will become carpet underlay, the wood frames become fuel for a local paper mill, and the cotton gets turned into oil filters for locomotives. Though the still have throw away the fiber layer (like we did) and the springs right now have no other major use -- though they are working on it.

Guthrie and I bought a new bed frame that does not require a squeaking box spring... what to do? Next year, Guthrie and I will be expanding our garden. We were so happy to use recycled wood for our first raised bed, but I know the pile from my sister's deck will not be enough to create the size we are looking for. Our new raised bed will be made out of our old box spring -- and it's already in a box shape! How convenient. :) I came across this idea after a Google search for "recycle old box spring."

There are other great ideas, like this box spring book shelf or this cool couch made out of both a box spring and mattress.

Peace!