The combination of environmentally conscious and socially aware aspects makes Spring Back a model company for a sustainable future. According to their website, more than 30 million mattresses are disposed of in landfills each year. Although they only serve the Nashville, Tennessee area at this time, the model could work in numerous locales, providing jobs that cannot be outsourced.
Through the recycling process, raw materials can be recovered from mattresses. These include cotton, metal, wood, and foam. “The revenue generated from this process sustains the venture, provides jobs and job training, and diverts mattresses from landfills.”
Spring Back Recycling was recently featured on NPR. The article focused on the company’s niche in the marketplace as well as the dual benefits of social and environmental concerns. According to the story, mattresses “contain an average of 25 pounds of steel and foam that can be chopped up for carpet padding [however,] recycling companies usually refuse to take a used mattress.” The idea of a used mattress may seem unsavory. In fact, a cursory internet search suggests that many states prohibit the resale of them, thereby making recycling even more essential.
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