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Air mattresses are recyclable, but few recycling facilities accept them.
Mattress recycling programs do not accept air mattresses, so it's much harder to responsibly dispose of an old air mattress than a traditional mattress.
But there are ways to recycle or upcycle air mattress plastic so it doesn't go to waste.
This guide is for eco-conscious owners looking to keep an old air mattress out of landfill.
Yes, an air mattress is recyclable, but only at a recycling facility that accepts the type of plastic it's made from.
The three main air mattress materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and laminated vinyl, which is PVC in layered form.
PVC and TPU are both plastics, so neither is eco-friendly. TPU is the preferred material for non-toxic air mattresses because it doesn't off-gas phthalates like some types of PVC do. But PVC is easier to recycle.
Yes, a PVC air mattress is recyclable through a process called mechanical recycling.
PVC is the plastic that most air mattresses are made from.
Mechanical recycling means grinding old PVC products into small pieces and mixing the ground PVC with new PVC to make products such as pipes and window profiles (Lewandowski and Skórczewska, 2022).
In some cases, making products from recycled PVC uses up to 90% less energy than making the same products from new PVC (Lewandowski and Skórczewska, 2022).
PVC recycling facilities do not exist in every area. The Vinyl Institute's PVC recycling directory lists the facilities near you that accept household PVC goods, such as pool floats, from residents.
Yes, TPU is a recyclable plastic, but few recycling facilities accept a TPU air mattress.
TPU does not have a plastic recycling symbol of its own, so a TPU air mattress falls under #7, the symbol for miscellaneous plastics.
Only specialist recycling facilities recycle #7 plastics, because the #7 symbol covers many different plastics and standard recycling systems process one type of plastic at a time.
If there is no recycling facility near you that takes TPU, you still have options to reuse a non-recyclable air mattress.
If you have an old air mattress that is not recyclable, donate it to someone else if it still holds air, or reuse its waterproof plastic if it leaks.
The plastic from a leaking air mattress is useful for making shopping bags, puncture repair patches, outdoor covers, ground sheets, a camping mattress, or a painting tarp.
If your air mattress is still in good condition (and you simply no longer need/want it), consider donating it to a local charity.
Donations to local charities are a great way to give back to the community and also help reduce waste.
Alternatively, consider giving it to friends or family looking for an affordable temporary sleeping solution.
Before donating, thoroughly clean and sanitize the mattress.
To turn an old air mattress into a shopping bag, you need scissors, a needle and thread or a sewing machine, and two strips of old fabric for the handles.
Make the shopping bag with the following steps.
To make a bigger bag, cut a third piece of air mattress 2 inches (5 cm) deep and as wide as the first two pieces.
Stitch the third piece between the bottom edges of the first two pieces to give the bag a flat base.
Cut your old air mattress into large pieces that you can easily store away.
Then, if you ever have another air mattress (or floating pool mattress, bike tube, etc.) that springs a leak, you can cut off a piece the necessary size and glue it on as a DIY puncture repair patch.
If you have items to store outside and need to protect them from the elements, pieces of an old air mattress might be a good solution (PVC has excellent waterproof properties).
I recently had to store my electric bike outside temporarily while the garage was having work done. An old air mattress cut entirely down one long edge (to form a sort of enormous PVC pitta bread) did a fantastic job of keeping the bike dry and protected.
Old air mattress pieces are also useful as ground sheets when camping. They’re lightweight, waterproof, and also offer good insulation.
I use an old piece when going on lengthy hikes (especially in cold weather) to protect myself from the cold ground when picnicking. It’s been a great addition to my gear set.
You can even go one step further and make your own bespoke camping mattress.
Simply stick large pieces of air mattress together, roll them up, tie them with eco-friendly twine, and you’ve got an emergency mattress that rolls up small enough to fit in a backpack.
If you’re decorating and don’t want to damage the flooring, old pieces of air mattresses make great tarps.
Just cut several large pieces that are big enough to cover the entire area, then lay them out around where you’re painting.
The waterproof plastic will prevent paint spillage, splatters, and other messes from coming into contact with carpets, wooden floors, etc.
Yes, duct tape seals a leak in an air mattress as a temporary repair.
Yes, a traditional mattress is recyclable as long as its parts are in good enough condition for a mattress recycling facility to reuse.
No, an air bed does not belong in a public recycling bin.
Recycling facilities that sort the contents of recycling bins do not recycle inflatables.
No, burning an old air mattress releases dioxins into the air.
Dioxins are toxic chemicals linked to cancer, immune system damage, and harm to reproduction and development.
Burning a PVC air mattress also releases hydrogen chloride gas.
Waste incinerators clean the smoke from burning plastic, but a backyard fire does not.
Airbed durability depends on the quality and how often it’s used, but I find on average they last between 2-10 years.
Before you get rid of a leaking air mattress, try to repair the leak.
Donate an air mattress you no longer need if it is still in good condition.
Once an air mattress is beyond repair, recycle it at a facility that accepts the appropriate type of plastic, or reuse the plastic at home and when camping.
Always keep old air mattresses out of recycling bins and backyard fires.
