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Allston Christmas might look different next year now that the state has banned mattresses from regular trash pickups
By adamg on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 2:04pm
Disposed Allston mattress with something to say in 2018. Photo by Roman Lilligren.
A state ban on the disposal of mattresses with your trash went into effect today, although the city of Boston alerted residents it will continue to collect mattresses put out on trash day until Jan. 1, if you insist, although it really wishes you wouldn't.
Starting Jan. 1, the city will begin a mattress-recycling program, similar to the existing textile and clothing recycling effort, in which you'll be able to schedule an appointment to have your old mattresses picked up for recycling - except futons, which aren't really mattresses, anyway, and so can continue to just go out in the trash.
As with clothing, you'll be able to schedule a pickup through Boston's 311 system. The city adds:
More than 75 percent of your unwanted mattresses and box springs are recyclable. After collection, mattresses and box springs will be donated for reuse or recycled. These materials will be used to make insulation, carpet padding, mulch, and new metal items.
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Comments
Anyone can see!
Anyone can see!
Nothing Really Mattress
To me!
Magoo sez
Magoo’s mattress has so many stains on it from Magoo’s romps with Mrs. Magoo, Magoo isn’t sure who might want to use it when Magoo needs a new one due to it being worn out from all the Magoo romps. Magoo.
Huh
Usually, one goes blind like Magoo because they're performing the substitute for partnered stuff.
yikes
I think it's well intentioned but I fear the mattress ban is going to result in discarded mattresses in woods and hillsides all over the fucking place. There needs to be a 1-step process for people to do this properly, and there just isn't. The sheer amount of bureaucracy needed to police the policies about not leaving out a mattress until it's not recyclable -- it's a joke.
edit: I might be wrong -- from the globe article:
"The department will not “enforce upon or fine” individual residents who violate the ban, but will enforce it with businesses, institutions, municipalities, and waste haulers, according to an e-mail from Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Edmund Coletta."
My prediction
On August 31, 2023, the sidewalks of Allston will still be littered with mattresses.
Hilarious
The picture brightened my day!
Insider's Guide to scheduling 311 pick-ups
1. Choose an address for pick up that is located around the corner from your own address.
2. Leave items on sidewalk under the cover of darkness.
3. Be able to leave own home in the morning without having to walk around mattresses, a/c units etc.
4. Live happily ever after
Stuff and nonsense
From the Globe article:
If you want to throw out your mattress, um, pour some oil on it first.
Compare Massachusetts with CT/RI
Connecticut and Rhode Island have mattress disposal laws as well, but also established statewide recycling programs at the same time:
https://byebyemattress.com/programs-by-state/connecticut/
https://byebyemattress.com/programs-by-state/rhode-island/
(very similar, Rhode Island used Connecticut as a model)
I can't find any signs that Massachusetts has a recycling program to match its ban. It leaves it up to the individual municipalities. Perhaps someone more in the know can chime in.
I know that song
♪Nothing really mattress, Anyone can see,
Nothing really mattress,
Nothing really mattress, to me,
Anyway the truck goes...♫
Queen-Sized
I get the impetus for having
I get the impetus for having mattresses picked up because it does make them easier to recycle but the 311 pickup system sucks. I had to get an older fridge picked up and followed the exact instructions on the site, including taking the doors off (despite fridge doors not locking since the 70s....). 311 came by on the appointed day and took the fridge.... and left the doors?? Which were leaning against the fridge.
I called the city and they ended up sending a DPW truck by hours later to get it but just... why ?
Dumpster fire decision
So ultimately we're just gonna see janky dirty mattresses in student and low-income areas. Great.
Young people and busy people without cars are gonna take their mattress and put it in front of the neighbor's house.... or in front of their own houses and just say it isn't theirs.
The only thing that should be banned here...
are bad puns...oy...