Sept 4 - Mattress Bill Signed By Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 4, 2013
SACRAMENTO - Environmental, business, recycling and mattress industry leaders joined Senators Loni Hancock and Lou Correa, and Assembly Member Cristina Garcia at the State Capitol today, to express support for their co-authored bill, Senate Bill 254. This measure, which must pass the Legislature in the next 8 days, would create a statewide mattress recycling incentive and collection program in California.
More than 4 million used mattresses are generated in the state annually. Due to their large size and high costs for disposal, used mattresses are too often discarded on road sides, causing blight, health threats, and added cleanup costs. Local Governments in California are currently saddled with an estimated $20 million annual cost for used mattress collection and clean up.
SB 254 will implement a producer responsibility solution operated by a non-profit stewardship organization to create incentives for increased mattress recycling and renovation. These operations will be overseen by CalRecycle and a Mattress Recycling Advisory Committee.
"Used mattresses currently represent a $20 million cost and blight for California communities," said CAW Executive Director Mark Murray. "SB 254 implements a model producer responsibility solution that will turn this disposal cost into a jobs and recycling benefit. This will mean more convenience for consumers, cost savings for communities, and job growth for recycling businesses."
The system will be financed by a recycling charge on new mattress sales, while providing consumers with free and convenient opportunities for mattress pick up, drop-off and recycling.
In addition to increased convenience for consumers, the program will benefit the recycling community since nearly all the material used to make mattresses is recyclable— and increased recycling means increased jobs and benefits to California’s economy.
This measure has the support of mattress manufacturers, recyclers, local governments and environmental groups. It was approved in Assembly Appropriations last week and is expected to be taken up on the Assembly Floor early next week.
Photo: CAW Executive Director Mark Murray joined Senator Loni Hancock, Senator Lou Correa and Assembly Member Cristina Garcia at a press event today in support of SB 254.
Supporters:
Californians Against Waste
California Apartment Association
California Chamber of Commerce
Californians for Mattress Recycling
California Retailers Association
City and County of San Francisco
City of El Cerrito
City of Martinez
City of Richmond
City of Sunnyvale
Contra Costa Co. Board of Supervisors
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Deslee Textiles, USA Inc.
Ecology Action
Got Sleep?
International Sleep Products Association
Jerome’s Furniture of San Diego-Riverside
League of California Cities
Leigh Fibers: Recycling Solutions
LFP Mattress Recycling
Mattress Discounters
McRoskey Mattress Company of San Francisco and Palo Alto
Marin County Hazardous & Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority
Napa Recycling & Waste Services
Natural Resources Defense Council
Northern California Recycling Association
Republic Services, Inc.
Select Comfort/The Sleep Number Bed
Sit’n Sleep
Sleep Country USA
Sleep Train, Inc.
SMART: Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association
Sonoma Co. Waste Management Agency
Tempur-Pedic
West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority