Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Plan – Mattress Recycling Council

The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) operates California’s statewide used mattress recycling program under the authority of the Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act, with conditional approval from CalRecycle as of May 13, 2026. The program is designed to eliminate illegal dumping, reduce public agency costs, and maximize recycling by providing no-cost drop-off locations across the state, coordinating with retailers for in-home pickup at the time of new mattress delivery, and funding the removal of illegally discarded mattresses. MRC manages the entire lifecycle of end-of-life mattresses, including collection, transportation, dismantling, and recovery of materials such as foam, wood, and textiles, with performance metrics tied to urban and rural access standards, diversion rates, and 100% retailer participation. Compliance is mandated by California Public Resources Code sections and CalRecycle regulations, which require contamination prevention, recycling quality improvements, and annual reporting through MRCreporting.org. Financial sustainability is supported by industry-funded recycling fees, with total program revenues and expenses for 2026 estimated at approximately $55.7 million and $53.3 million respectively, though the arrangement is not structured as a traditional procurement with line items or contract value declarations. Operational oversight resides with CalRecycle, which retains authority to certify, decertify, and manage transitions in program leadership. In the event of MRC’s decertification, the agency may require MRC to provide up to 12 months of transitional services to ensure uninterrupted operations, including paying vendors, maintaining consumer incentives, transferring assets and liabilities, and facilitating a seamless handoff to a Successor Organization. Key obligations during transition include novation of contracts, data and software transfer, and continuity of financial obligations, excluding civil or criminal penalties. While no formal contract clauses, payment office details, invoicing systems, or contracting officer information are specified, the framework relies on statutory compliance and programmatic accountability rather than traditional federal acquisition structures. Performance is evaluated based on technical capacity, geographic reach, recycling technology, and response completeness, though no weighted scoring system is published. The program operates without defined delivery points, FOB terms, or packaging standards, instead focusing on statewide accessibility and environmental outcomes through community-driven collection infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration.