Federal Council calls for mattress recycling: A step towards environmental friendliness!

Federal Council calls for mattress recycling: A step towards environmental friendliness!

There will soon be new regulations for the disposal of mattresses in Cologne. How Express reported, on June 13, 2025, at the initiative of Hesse, the Federal Council called on the federal government to recycle more mattresses. Over eight million mattresses end up in the trash every year, with the majority being burned. This is not only an immense waste of resources, but also poses health risks due to the flame retardants and chemicals contained in mattresses.

The resolution includes the request that Germany should lobby the EU Commission for a regulation based on the Ecodesign Regulation. This regulation is intended to ensure that problematic materials in products are replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives. Manufacturers should also be held responsible in order to increase their responsibility when recycling mattresses.

Focus on recyclable design

The average Cologne resident may not know that mattresses are disposed of from private households on average after 10 to 14 years mattress-recycling.de determines. However, the mattresses that are thrown away as bulky waste often do not meet the necessary design for an effective circular economy. The current take-back largely takes place through mixed bulky waste, which leads to a modest recycling rate. To counteract this, separate collection systems should be developed in the future so that mattresses can be fed into the recycling process in a dry and clean manner.

The goal is clear: old mattresses must be recycled efficiently so that valuable materials such as foam and metal can be recovered. Producers are called upon to offer take-back systems when selling new mattresses. This could be a more environmentally friendly solution.

Environmental awareness and legal options

The need for a rethink is also supported by NABU, which is calling for the introduction of extended producer responsibility systems (EPR). Such systems already exist in countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands, while Germany still has some catching up to do. NABU highlights that the legal requirements for eco-design are crucial in order to minimize environmental impact over the entire life cycle of products.

With an increased focus on recycling and the urgently needed switch to sustainable materials, one could not only protect the environment, but also minimize the waste of energy and resources in the long term. It remains exciting to see how quickly and effectively this new regulation will be implemented in Cologne and beyond.