Thursday, September 5, 2013

Let’s Put The Used Mattress Recycling Legislation To Bed

SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) Press Conference Demonstrates Broad-Based Support
Contact: Shelly Sullivan
(916) 858-8686

Sacramento, CA – Earlier today California State Senators Loni Hancock (SD-9, Berkeley); Lou Correa (SD-34, Santa Ana); Ryan Trainer, President, International Sleep Products Association; Mark Murray, Californians Against Waste and others joined Californians for Mattress Recycling in a press conference discussing the merits of SB 254.
SB 254 establishes a pubic policy program for the management of used mattresses that will create an economical and practical system for recycling used mattresses, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.
International Sleep Products Association President, Ryan Trainer stated, "The valuable lesson to keep in mind is by keeping the common goal of wanting to create a comprehensive used mattress recycling program, we have been able to put differences aside, compromise and remain loyal to the intent of creating legislation that will meet the needs of consumers, the environment and business."
The intent of SB 254 is to create a used mattress recycling program that will keep old mattresses out of landfills, off highways, and out of vacant lots and alleys. The result provides Californians with a comprehensive mattress recycling solution that is consumer friendly and efficient. The SB 254 model is now very similar to existing successful recycling systems in California for paint and used carpet and similar to other 2013 used mattress recycling legislation signed into law in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Enjoying a broad range of support many coalition partners were in attendance at the press conference such as representatives from the California Retailers Association, the California Apartment Association, CalChamber, and Blue Marble Materials, a mattress recycling facility.
SB 254 creates a non-profit mattress recycling organization whose duty would 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. The fee collected does not go into government coffers; rather, it is remitted directly to the NGO responsible for sustaining the mattress-recycling program.
Shelly Sullivan representing Californians for Mattress Recycling stated, "SB 254 is a fantastic illustration as to what is possible, it strikes a carefully considered balance that will increase used mattress recycling, reduce urban blight from illegally dumped mattresses, and cut local and municipal government costs, while at the same time financing the process in a sustainable and equitable manner."
SB 254 will now move to the Assembly Floor for approval.