Mattress recycling at Vashon Transfer Station helps reclaim valuable resources, save room in King County landfill

March 18, 2022

Summary

Vashon-Maury Island residents have an easy and convenient way to recycle their old mattresses, box springs, and futons through a new service available at King County’s Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station.

Story

A program now available to customers at the Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station can give new life to the valuable recyclable materials from some of the estimated 375,000 mattresses, box springs, and futons that go to King County’s landfill for disposal each year. 
 
Vashon-Maury Island residents can recycle their old mattresses, box springs, and futons. Collected items go to a facility where metal, wood, foam, and cotton are removed to be used in manufacturing new items – saving resources, and space in the landfill, too. 
 
To offset the cost of the expanded service, a $30 fee will be collected for each mattress, box spring, and futon, regardless of size or condition. 
 
Customers who present a ProviderOne, EBT, or ORCA LIFT card at the scale house are eligible for a $14 discount. 
 
Residential customers are limited to six units per visit. To inquire about a Waste Clearance Permit to dispose of larger quantities, please call King County Solid Waste Division’s Customer Service Desk at 206-477-4466 or 711 TTY Relay.  
 
The Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station is one of five King County Solid Waste Division locations where the new recycling service is now available, building on a successful pilot program launched in 2017. King County’s Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, and Shoreline stations also offer the service.  
 
More information about how to recycle or dispose of mattresses, paint, electronics, and other unneeded or unwanted items is available on King County’s “What do I do with…” website. 
 
King County’s Solid Waste Division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, the only operational landfill in the county. 
 
RELEVANT LINKS 
• Vashon Transfer Station 
• Recycling Services at Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station 
• “What do I do with?” material recycling, disposal and donation information 
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Annie Kolb-Nelson, Solid Waste Division, 206-477-5373 
 
About the King County Solid Waste Division 
The Solid Waste Division is guided by its vision to achieve zero waste of resources and to enhance the environment through collaboration and innovation. The division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – the only operational landfill in the county. Our stakeholders include residents and business owners in unincorporated King County and 37 cities throughout the county. Our mission is to bring the best people together to deliver value our customers and stakeholders, and to continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal.