Fairfield residents can dispose of old mattresses or box springs in an environmentally friendly way on either Wednesday, November 13, 2019 or Saturday, November 16, 2019 through a recycling program offered by the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force (SFTF).
On those dates, Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises (GBCE), in cooperation with the SFTF, will offer residents home pick-up and recycling of their old mattresses or box springs for $20 per item. The program continues a recycling effort successfully launched in June this year by GBCE and SFTF.
Appointments for pick-up on either Nov. 13 or Nov. 16 should be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. To make an appointment, please contact Adrienne Farrar Houël at GBCE, (203) 212-3860 or (203) 209-6915, houel@greenteambpt.com.
Mattresses and box springs cannot be readily be placed in landfills nor easily compressed and crushed for incineration, but recycling is increasing as an alternative approach. The mattresses and box springs are not reused, but rather are disassembled and their components, such as foam, cotton, wood, and steel springs, are recovered and sold for use in manufacturing other, non-mattress products.
By reducing the amount of waste Fairfield ships to incineration facilities, recycling mattresses also saves the Town money on disposal fees.
“Under this program, recycling your mattress or box spring is easy, economical and good for the environment,” said Bob Wall, an SFTF member who helped develop the program. “The program also helps support our partner GBCE in their efforts to provide employment opportunities for residents of the greater Bridgeport area.”
GBCE created a unique, mattress deconstruction and materials recycling enterprise – Park City Green – as part of its mission to help families in the Bridgeport region achieve greater economic self-sufficiency via jobs in “green businesses” and training in the growing green economy. For more information on GBCE’s work, please visit https://greenteambpt.com.
The SFTF provides support for Town practices and projects that can help Fairfield manage its growth to safeguard the health of its environment, ensure the reliability and economical use of its natural resources, and preserve the quality of life of its residents – today and for the future. For more information, please visit https://www.fairfieldct.org/sftf or contact Bob Wall, SFTF member, at 203-581-0006.