GOVERNOR BROWN, JR. SIGNS SB 254 INTO LAW

Californians For Mattress Recycling States SB 254 (HANCOCK/CORREA) Creates A Practical and Efficient Used Mattress Recycling Program For California  

SACRAMENTO -- SB 254 (Hancock/Correa), which has enjoyed bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, creates a practical and efficient used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.

In his signing message, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., stated, “I applaud the efforts of the authors in creating a program to lessen impacts to California landfills, reduce costs to local governments, and remove blight in rural and inner city neighborhoods.”

This new law is supported by a broad range of groups, including industry, retailers, recyclers, cities and counties, local elected officials, and waste management organizations. Per the legislation, SB 254 creates a non-profit mattress recycling organization whose duty will be to plan, implement and administer a state system to collect discarded used mattresses, dismantle them and recycle their materials for use in new products. The program will be sustained by collecting a nominal fee at retail on the sale of new mattresses and box-springs.

International Sleep Products Association President Ryan Trainer stated, “This is a great day for our industry, the environment and California consumers. All stakeholders collaborated to help refine this legislation into a used mattress recycling policy that will provide a practical and innovative solution to a serious problem. This is an effective and efficient piece of public policy legislation and ISPA is proud to be a part of the solution in dealing with properly recycling used mattresses.”

SB 254 provides Californians with a comprehensive mattress recycling solution that is consumer-friendly, cost-effective and efficient. The program authorized by SB 254 is very similar to existing recycling systems in California and other states for other consumer products. California is the third state in the country to pass a used mattress recycling law this year.

Shelly Sullivan representing Californians for Mattress Recycling stated, “We would like to thank the authors, the cosponsors and all stakeholders who participated in the process and remained so committed to SB 254. We know Californians take pride in their recycling practices. SB 254 simply gives Californians another avenue to broaden the scope of the state’s recycling portfolio.”

Californians for Mattress Recycling is an ad hoc group representing stakeholders united in their support for efficient and practical mattress recycling. For more information contact Shelly Sullivan at (916) 858-8686 or go to: http://www.ca4mattressrecycling.org